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.ORD    I'ELIIAM. 


[See  pages  74  and  499.] 


HISTORY 


PELHAM,  MASS 


FROM   1738  TO   1898, 


I.\CLUDI\G   THE   EARLY 


HISTORY  OF  PRESCOTT. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  TOWN.— ESTABLISHMENT  OF 
SCHOOLS.— THE  FRENCH  AND  INDIAN  WARS.— THE  REV- 
OLUTIONARY   WAR.— SHAYS     REBELLION.— SKETCH 
OF    CAFT.  DANIEL    SHAYS.— CHURCH  HISTORY.— 
THE      REBELLION     OF     1S61-5.— SKETCHES    OF 
NOTABLE  MEN,  NATIVES  OF    THE    TOWN, 
ETC.,  ETC. 


By    C.    O.    PARMENTER. 


AMHERST,    MASS.  : 

press  of  Carpenter  &  .IRorcbcusc, 


■THERE    IS    NO    TOWN    SO    POOR 


THAT    ITS    PAST    HAS  n't    FURNISHED    SOMETHING 


WORTH    EMBALMING    FOR    POSTERITY. 


-Boston   Transcript,  February  23 


Table  of  Contents, 


Settlement  of  Pelham. 
North  of  Ireland  Scotchmen  learn  of  America — Memorial  to  Governor 
Shute  of  Massachusetts  sent  by  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd  in  17 18 — One  Hun- 
dred families  sail  for  Massachusetts  and  land  in  Boston  August  4, 
17 18 — From  Boston  to  Worcester — Then  to  Pelham  in  1738 — 
Description  of  Equivalent  Lands  purchased — North  of  Ireland 
Scotchmen  in  173S,  .  .  .  .  .  .        7  to  13 

Proprietors'  Records. 
173S  to  1743. 
First  meeting  of  Proprietors  held  at  Worcester  February  26,  173S-9 — 
Articles  of  Agreement  for  purchase  of  Land  made  and  indented 
October  20,  1738^-Survey  of  the  tract  purchased  with  plan  of 
the  same  and  names  of  those  who  drew  Home  Lots — First  meeting 
of  Proprietors  held  on  the  newly  purchased  tract  first  called  Lisburn, 
August  6,  1740 — Various  meetings  of  Proprietors  previous  to  the 
Incorporation  of  the  Town  1743— Meetings  of  Proprietors'  organ- 
ization until  1767,  .  .  .  .  .  ■        13  to  67 

The  Communion  Token. 
Distributed   to    Members   on    Lecture    Days— Gathered   Again   After 

Communion  Service,  .  .  .  .  .  .      68  to  74 

Incorporation  of  the  Town  of  Pelham— Town  Meeting  Records. 
From  1743  to  1763. 

First  Town  Meeting  held  April  19,  1743,  at  the  call  of  Robert  Peibols— 
Full  list  of  Officers  Chosen— Voted  to  Establish  Schools  in  1744— 
Annual  Town  Meeting  Records — Petition  to  General  Court  to  Le- 
galize Acts  of  Town  Officers  in  1753— Invoices  Given  in  for  Taxa- 
tion in  1760— The  Town  Presented  at  Court  in  1762  for  "Volun- 
tarily Omitting  and  Neglecting  to  Provide  Themselves  with  a 
Learned  and  Able  Orthodox  Minister"— Illegal  Killing  of  Deer  in 
1763,  and  Penalty  therefor,  .  .  .  .  .    74  to  116 

From  1763  to  1776. 
Call  of  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  to  Settle  in  1763— Objectors 
Thereto — Warning  of  Objectionable  Families  to  Leave  Town — 
Pewing  the  Meeting-house  in  1766— Allotment  of  Pews— Disagree- 
ment with  the  Shutesbury  Selectmen  About  Town  Lines  in  1769 — 
Town  Vendue  in  1769— Death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Graham   in   1771— Rev. 


IV.  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Andrew  Bay  Supplies  the  Pulpit  in  1772 — Patriotic  Response  to 
the  Boston  Committee  of  Correspondence,  1773 — Call  to  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Merrill  in  November,  1774— Letter  of  a  Pelham  Man  in 
the  Army  at  Charlestown,  1775— Committee  of  Safety  Chosen  1776 
— Handbill  from  the  Court  of  Independency  1776        .  .  116  to  132 

From  1777  to  17S6. 

Valuation  of  Property  for  Taxation  Established  1777— Rev.  Mr.  Mer- 
rill's Appeal  1779— Large  Increase  of  Salary  17S0— .Measures 
Taken  to  Secure  Men  for  the  Army  17S1 — Bounties  Offered— Action 
Taken  to  Procure  Beef  for  the  Army — Daniel  Shays  on  Committee 
of  Safety  1781— Selectmen  Refuse  to  Call  a  Town  Meeting  1782— 
Trying  to  Settle  with  the  Three  and  Si.x  Months  Men  1783- 
Allowance  to  Soldiers  in  the  Late  War  1785 — The  Town  Votes  to 
Have  a  Bank  of  Paper  Money  Made  17S6,        .  .  .132  to  157 

From  17S6  to  1797. 

Petition  of  certain  inhabitants  of  Belchertown  in  17S6— Convention  at 
Bruce's  Tavern,  July  31,  17S6— Mutterings  about  "  Grievances"  in 
Town  Meeting— Delegates  to  Convention  at  Hatfield  in  August, 
1786— Second  Parish  Organized  1786— Choice  of  Delegates  to  At- 
tend Constitutional  Convention,  i787^First  Justice  of  the  Peace 
Appointed,  1788 — Families  Warned  to  Leave  Town  in  1790-91  — 
First  General  Appropriation  for  the  Poor,  1790 — Support  of  the 
Poor  First  Sold  to  Lowest  Bidder  1794 — Laying  Out  Road  to  the 
Valley,  1795 — Stipulation  Concerning  the  Poor,  1797.  157  to  168 

From  1797  to  1809. 

Tranfer  of  Pews  in  the  Old  Meeting-house,  179S — Permission  \'oted  to 
build  "  Horse  Shades,"  1799 — Sale  of  Town  Lands  at  Vendue,  1801 
— Opposition  to  the  Building  of  Turnpike,  1802 — A  Town  Pound 
Established,  1S04— Robert  Lotheridge  Sells  His  Pew  in  the  Old 
Meeting-house — Voted  to  hold  one-third  of  the  Town  Meetings  in 
the  Second  Parish,  1805— Attempts  to  have  the  Toll-gate  Abolish- 
ed, 1806— Samuel  and  Andrew  Hyde  Petition  to  have  their  Lands 
Set  Off  to  Amherst,  1S07,  ....  16S  to  176 

From  1809  to  1S15. 

Two  Candidates  for  Representative  to  the  General  Court.  1S09— Taxes 
Upon  the  People,  1809 — The  Abercrombie  Brothers,  Isaac  and 
James,  Candidates  for  Representative,  1810 — The  6th  Mass.  Turn- 
pike Corporation  Tries  to  Discontinue  Their  Road  Through  Town, 
i8ro — County  Road  to  Enfield  Laid  Out,  181 1 — Governor  Peti- 
tioned to  Restore  the  Two  Military  Companies  to  their  Former 
Regiments,  1812— Fear  of  a  Draft  for  the  War  of  1S12— Wages  of 
Detached  Soldiers  Raised,  1814 — The  Plast  Parish  asks  to  be  Set 
Off  as  a  Town  by  Itself,  1815,       .  .  .  .  .  176  to  183 


CONTENTS.  V, 

From  1S15  to  1S24. 

New  Pelham — Order  of  Notice  from  the  General  Court  to  Show  Why 
the  Prayer  of  the  Second  Parish  Should  Not  be  Granted,  1S19 — 
The  Town  Votes  Against  Revising  the  Constitution,  1S20— The 
Last  Act  of  Opposition  to  Setting  Off  the  Second  Parish— The 
Town  Rejects  All  of  the  Eleven  Amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
182 1— The  East  Parish  Succeeds  in  Getting  Set  Off  from  the  Old 
Town,  1822 — Large  Number  Supported  by  the  Town  in  1822, — Sale 
of  Common  Lands  and  Proceeds  go  for  Repairs  on  the  Meeting 
House.  1S23,  .  .  .  .  .  *  .  1S3  to  190 

From  1824  to  1S61. 

Council  Called  to  Dismiss  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  in  1S25— Great  Flood 
of  1S28  Does  Damage — Ziba  Cook  Elected  Representative  by 
One  Majority  in  1829 — Stove  L^sed  in  Meeting  House  for  the  First 
Time  in  1831 — New  Town  Hall  Wanted  in  1835 — Money  Secured 
from  the  United  States  Treasury  in  1837 — Wanted  to  Change  the 
Name  of  the  Town  in  1840 — Libraries  Established  in  1842 — Scheme 
for  Two  Town  Halls  in  1842 — Old  Meeting  House  Changed  for 
Town  Hall  in  1S44 — Old  Meeting  House  Rented  in  1846 — Many 
Candidates  for  Representative  in  1850-51 — Voted  to  Surrender  the 
Charter  in  1854-56 — Enrolled  Men  in  1S61,         .  ,  .  190  to  205 

From  1S62  to  1S97. 

Action  for  the  Relief  of  Soldiers'  Families,  1S62— Draft  for  Men  in  1S63 
— Heavy  Taxes  After  the  War — Number  of  Schools  Reduced  from 
Eight  to  Four  in  1874 — Few  Town  Meetings  Annually  After  That — 
Blizzard  of  1888— Death  of  Sylvester  Jewett,  1S92— History  of  the 
Old  Meeting  House,  .  .  .  .  .  .  205  to  223 

Schools— From  1744  to  1897. 

Establishment  of  Schools  in  1744— Scliool  Committees— Appropria- 
tions of  Schools  for  Each  Year  from  1744  to  1S97,         .  .  223  t0234 

Mills,  Maxufacturies.  Etc. 

Lands  for  Mills,  1739— Corn  Mill,  1755 — Stinson's  Sawmill,  1760— Ham- 
ilton's Sawmill,  1785 — Barlow's  Sawmill,  1787 — Town  Takes  Ac- 
tion, 1791— Mills  Built  on  Home  Lot  56,  1803-4— Many  Owners  of 
Mills  in  the  Hollow— Stephen  Fairbank's  Carding  Machine,  1815 — 
Shoe  Peg  Business  on  Pergy  Brook— Land  for  Mill  at  West  Pel- 
ham,  1739— Scythe  ^l">op  and  Foundry— Carding  Machine,  1808 — 
Jillson's  Mills,  1S20— Various  Owners  of  Mills— Fishing  Rod  Busi- 
ness, 1858— Montague  City  Rod  Co— Brown's  Turning  Shop— Char- 
coal—Stone  Quarries— Miscellaneous  Manufacturing— Innkeepers 
and  Retailers— Merchants— Justices  of  the  Peace— Physicians- 
Blacksmiths,  .  .  .  .  .  •  234  to  261 


vi.  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Religious  Societies. 

The  First  Presbyterian  Church  History  gathered  from  the  town  and 
parish  records,  the  old  church  records  having  been  lost  or  destroyed 
—From  the  Records  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  and  Par- 
ish of  Pelham  from  1786  to  1822— Confession  of  Faith— Records 
of  Church  at  Pelham  Center  from  1822  to  1897— Quakers  or  Friends 
—Baptists  at  Packardville— The  Methodists,  Beginning  with  the 
Labors  of  Rev.  Isaac  Stoddard  in  1831— Union  Society  at  Packard- 
ville Organized  1869,  .  .  .  .  .  .  261  to  294 

Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  and  the  Church  at  Pelham. 

His  Call  to  be  their  Pastor  in  1742— Protest  Against  His  Settlement 
in  1743 — Ordained  August  30,  1744 — Sermon  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Ed- 
wards of  Northampton — Home  Lot  No.  i  turned  over  to  Mr.  Aber- 
crombie as  the  First  Settled  Minister— Troubled  to  Collect  His 
Salary  in  1746-7 — Charged  by  the  Presbytery  with  Conduct  Con- 
trary to  Presbyterian  Principles  and  Rules  Governing  the  Church, 
and  Forbidden  to  Preach  at  the  Church  in  Pelham — Suppliers 
Appointed  by  the  Presbytery — Final  Suspension  in  1754— Suit 
against  the  Town  for  Arrears  of  Salary  in  1756— Statement  of  Dif- 
ferences with  the  Presbytery  made  by  Mr.  Abercrombie  in  Letters 
to  a  Friend,  .......  294  to  319 

Stephen  Burroughs,  The  Supplier. 

Obtained  a  Situation  as  Supplier  in  Spring  of  17S4 — Preached 
Acceptably  Four  Sundays — Reengaged  for  Four  Months — Read  an 
Old  Sermon  at  a  Funeral — Given  a  Text  from  which  to  Preach 
with  Little  Time  for  Preparation — Proved  his  Ability  to  Preach 
Extempore — With  One  Sunday  More  to  Preach  was  Found  to  be 
an  Imposter— Fled  in  the  Night— Pursued  by  the  Indignant  Peo- 
ple—Fracas at  Rutland — Came  Back  to  Pelham  in  the  Night  to 
His  Friend  Lysander— Passed  Counterfeit  Dollars  in  Springfield 
and  was  Imprisoned — The  Hay  Mow  Sermon,  .  .  320  to  340 

Pelham  in  the  Wars. 
French  War— Revolutionary  War — War  of  1S12— Mexican  War — The 
Great  Rebellion — A  Full  Company  of  Men  in  the  French  and  In- 
dian War,  1757— Opening  of  War  of  Revolution— Ironclad  Oath  of 
Pelliam  Men. — Capt.  David  Cowden's  Company  of  Minute  Men 
April  19,  1775— Old  Muster  Rolls— Names  of  Men— The  March  to 
Cambridge  in  the  War  of  1S12— Pelham  Men  in  the  Great  Rebel- 
lion— Sketches  of  the  Men  and  the  Regiments  in  which  they 
Served,         .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  341  to  365 

The  Shavs  Rebellion  of  17S6-S7. 
Capt.  Daniel  Shays,  a  Pelham    Man — Gathering  of   Debt   Burdened 
Men  in  Conventions— Lists  of  Grievances  Formulated— Opposition 


CONTENTS.  I 

to  Lawyers  in  General  Court— Opposition  to  Sittings  of  the  Courts 
—Terms  of  Court  Prevented  by  Armed  Men— Court  Houses  in  Pos- 
session of  Armed  Insurgents— Gov.  Bowdoin  Calls  Out  the  Militia 
— Warrants  Issued  for  Arrest  of  Insurgent  Leaders— Gen.  B.  Lin- 
coln  Given   Command   of   Militia — Gen.  Shepherd's  Detachment 
Guarding  the  Arsenal  at  Springfield — Shays  Marches  to  the  Attack 
—Repulsed — Several  Men  Killed— Flight  of  Capt.  Shays  and  Men  to 
Pelham — Gen.  Lincoln  Pursues— Shays'  Men  Dispersed  at  Peters- 
ham, .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  366  to  390 

Captain  Daniel  Shays. 

Born  at  Hopkinton — In  the  War  of  the  Revolution — In  Pelham  After 
War — A  Friend  of  Landlord  Conkey — Met  Debt  Burdened  Men  at 
Conkey's  Tavern— Drilled  them  in  Use  of  Arms— Became  Rebel 
Leader — Fled  from  the  State— Was  Pardoned  in  178S— Removed  to 
State  of  New  York— Did  not  Prosper  in  Business — Drifted  to 
Livingston  County— Died  in  1S24  After  Living  in  Extreme  Poverty 
at  Sparta,      .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  391  to  402 

Settlement  of  Salem,  N.  Y.,  by  Pelham  People  in  1764. 

James  Turner  and  Joshua  Conkey  First  Settlers  of  Salem — Journeyed 
Through  the  Forests  on  Foot  in  1761 — Took  Up  Land.s — Went  Back 
to  Pelham  for  the  Winter — Made  Permanent  Settlement  in  1764— 
Hamilton  McCollister  Joined  the  Pioneers — The  Settlement  Known 
as  New  England  Colony — Were  Men  of  Character — Had  Highest 
Esteem  for  Religion — First  Sermon  Preached  was  in  the  Cabin  of 
James  Turner,         ......  .403  to  411 

Professional  and  Business  Men,  Natives  of   Pelham. 

The  Record  a  Good  One — Have  made  their  Mark  as  Professional  and 
Business  Men  in  Many  States — Wells  and  Edward  Southworth, 
Business  Men — Daniel,  James  and  Austin  W.  Thompson,  Leading 
Physicians  of  Northampton — Ira  P.  Rankin,  Business  Man  and 
Government  Officer,  San  Francisco — Dr.  James  Dunlap  of 
Northampton — Dr.  Harvey  Willson  Harkness,  Scientist,  San  Fran- 
cisco— Judge  Ithamar  Conkey  of  Amherst — Col.  James  N.  Smith, 
Railroad  Builder,  Brooklyn — Nathaniel  Gray,  San  Francisco — 
Rev.  Aldin  Grout,  Missionary — William  Smith  Otis,  Inventor,  Etc. 
—  Dr.  Israel  H.  Taylor  of  Amherst,        ....  412  to  446 

John   Savage  and  John  Stinson. 

Prominent  Citizens  of  Pelham  in  the  Middle  of  the   iSth   Century,  but 

not  Natives  of  the  Town,  .....  446  to  449 

Concerning  the  Women  of  Pelham. 

Reputation  for  Industry — They  Introduced  the  "Little  Wheel"'  for 
Spinning  Flax— They  Taught  Its  Use — They  Spun  and  Wove  Linen 


2  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

— Also  Wool,  and  made  the  Cloth  into  Garments— Made  Domestic 
Braid  from  Rye  Straw — Braided  or  Platted  Palm  Leaf  into  Hats 
—Wove  Palm  Leaf  into  Webs  for  Shaker  Hoods — Marriages — 
Published  Intentions  of  Marriage— Births— Form  of  Death  Record, 
Etc.,  ........  450  to  469 

Mount  Lincoln". 

Description  of  the  Mountain — Many  Towns  Seen  from  its  Summit — 
Beacon  Fires  During  the  Revolution — Station  for  Geodetic  Survey 
—  Heighth  Above  Tide  Water — Uncle  Reuben  Allen,  470  to  472 

Old  Burial  Places. 

A  Sketch  of  each  of  the  Eleven  Burial  Places  of  Pelham — The  Old 
Burial  Ground  at  the  Center — The  West  Burying  Ground — The 
Quaker  Burying  Ground — The  Arnold  Burying  Ground — The  John- 
son Family  Burial  Place — The  Smith  Private  Burial  Ground — Bur- 
ial Ground  near  George  Knight's — Packardville  Burying  Ground — 
The  \'alley  Cemetery— The  West  Pelham  Burying  Ground — The 
Cemetery  on  the  Prescott  side  of  the  East  Hollow,      .  .  473  t0  4Si 

Taverns  and  Landlords. 

The  Tavern  of  Thomas  Dick — The  Old  Conkey  Tavern — Dr.  Hind's 
Tavern  on  Pelham  East  Hill — Kingman's  Tavern  on  the  West 
Hill— Cook's  Tavern— The  Orient  House — Hotel  Pelham,       4S2  to  4S7 

Old  Advertisements,  Etc. 

Strav  Cattle  and  Horses — Taken  in  Damage  and  Otherwise — Clear 
Description  of  Animals — '"Marks  for  Creaturs"".  Posting  of  War- 
rants lor  Town  Meetings.  ....  4SS  to  490 

Stories — Pleasant  and  Otherwise. 

De  Rex  vs.  Hyde — Rev.  Robert  Al^ercrombie  and  the  Church  Commit- 
tee— Rev.  Dr.  Parsons  of  Amherst  and  the  People  of  Pelham — 
Farmer  Harkness  and  the  Traveler — Crimes — Prince  Dwelly  Loses 
His  Life — Charles  Stetson  Shot  April  11,  iSSi — Marion  Mont- 
gomery Kills  His  Son  December  26.  1SS2,  .  .  .  491  to  49S 

Sketch  of  Henry  Pelham— 1696-1754. 
From  Memoirs  of  Henry   Pelham,  by   William  Coxe,  \'ol.  2.  301-304, 

499  to  501 
Representatives  to  the  General  Court — 502-503. 
Town  Officers. 

Moderators  of  Annual  Town  Meetings — Town  Clerks— Town  Treas- 
urers— Town  Selectmen — 1763  to  189S  Inclusive.  .  .  503  to  508 


List  of  Illustrations. 


Page. 
Lord  Pelham,  Facing  Title  Page. 
Pelham  Center  from  the  North,  7 
Plan  of  Town  of  Pelham,  with 

Home  Lots,  25 

Second    Plan    of     the    Town, 

Three  Divisions  of  Land,  30 
Capt.  Thos.  Dick's  Gravestone,  51 
Upper  Reservoir,  Apple  Trees 

in  bloom.  May,  1S98,  51 

The  Token,  6S 

Town  iMeeting,  March,  1S97,  77 

Capt.  Benjamin  Page's  House, 

Rankin  Farm,  98 

Abijah  Fales"  Farm  House,  98 

L.  W.  Allen's  Sawmill,  116 

S.  F.  Arnold's  Residence,  116 

The  Rocking  Stone,  132 

House    on    Joel   Grout    Farm, 

Owned  b_v  Henry  Cook,  132 
Stephen  Rhodes'  Residence,  157 
C.  P.  Hanson's  Residence,  157 

The  Jewett,  or  Harkness  House, 

in  Winter,  176 

J.    R.    Anderson's    House,    in 

Winter,  176 

To  the  Cider  Mill,  205 

On  the  Sandy  Road  to  Amherst 

Market,  205 

Sylvester  Jewett,  217 

The  Communion  .Service  of  the 

Scotch  Presbvter'n  Church.  217 
The    Old    Pulpit    of    the    Old 

Meeting  House,  217 

The  Old  Meeting  House,  217 

William  Gilmore's  Invoice   for 

Taxation.  1760,  221 

First  Town  Meeting  Warrant,  222 
Residence  of  Mrs.  A.  Morgan,  223 
The  "  City ''School  House,  223 

The  Valley  School  House,  229 

The  Valley  Bridge,  229 

Dam  and  Bridge,  West  Branch,  236 
Up   the    Valley    of    the    West 

Branch,  from  the  Cemetery,  236 
Dam  at  Fishing  Rod  Factory, 

West  Pelham,  242 

Montague    City    Fishing    Rod 

Company's  Factory,  242 

Residence  of  David  Shores,        245 


Page. 
Charcoal     Kilns,    near     Pulpit 

Hill,  Pelham  Hollow,  245 

M.  E.  Boynton's  Residence,  254 
Tombstone     of     Edward     and 

Elizebeth  Selfridge,  254 

Pelham  Center  from  the  South,  282 
Daisies  Among  the  Graves,  Old 

Burying  Ground,  282 

Union  Church.  Packardville,  288 
M.  E.  Church,  West  Pelham,  2S8 
Autograph  Manuscript   by 

James  Conkey,  1746-7,  '  301 
The  Protest,  302 

The  Grave  of  Adam  Johnson,  302 
Receipt    or    Discharge     Given 

by  Rev.  R.  Abercrombie,  312 
Stephen  Burroughs,  322 

View  in  West  Pelham,  near  the 

Fishing  Rod  Factory,  341 

Falls  on   Pergy   Brook,  Pelham 

Hollow,  365 

Amherst  as  seen  from   Pelham 

Before  1S50,  365 

Home  of  Capt.  Shays  in  Pelham  391 
Abial  Robinson  Farm  House,  391 
Facsimile   of    Capt.   Shays' 

Handwriting,  393 

LTp  the  East  Hill,  (Prescott)  399 
Wells  Southworth.  412 

Edward  Southworth,  414 

Ira  P.  Rankin,  417 

Dr.  James  Dunlap,  418 

Dr.  Harvey  Willson  Harkness,  421 
Judge  Ithamar  Conkey,  425 

Birth   Place  of  Judge   Ithamar 

Conkey,  425 

Col.  James  N.  Smith,  428 

Nathaniel  Gray,  430 

Rev.  Aldin  Grout.  432 

The  Buffum  Brook,  432 

Otis  Patent  Steam  Excavator,  436 
Thomas  Buffum,  440 

Dr.  E.  Ward  Cooke,  444 

Uncle  Eseck  Cook  Farm  House, 444 
Mrs.  Betsey  Otis  Smith.  461 

Tower  on  Mount  Lincoln,  470 

Boiling  Cider,  470 

View   from   the    Enfield    Road 

Toward  Pelham  Center,        471 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


The  Reuben  Allen  Place, 
The  East  School  House, 
Samuel  Davis'  Residence, 
The    Old    Graveyard,  Center, 
J.  W.  Keith's  Residence, 
Tomb  in  Smith   Private  Ceme 

tery,  477 

The  Arba  Randall  Farm  House  477 
The  Old  Conkey  Tavern  Sign,  482 
The  Old  Conkey  Tavern,  4S2 


Page. 
472 
472 
472 
474 
474 


Page. 
Ziba  Cook's  Tavern,  4S4 

Waterfall  on  Dunlap  Brook,  484 
Orient  House,  West  Pelham,  486 
Hotel  Pelham,  486 

View  from  West  Bury 'g  Ground,  498 
View  of  Prescottfrom  the  North,  498 
High  Water  in  the  West  Branch, 
1897, — Vanstone's  Mill  and 
Bridge,  507 

Stone  Bridge,  Dunlap  Brook,       507 


Errata. 


Page     17 — Fifth  line  from  the  bottom  Abraham  Should  be  Adam. 
"      76— Sixth  line  from  bottom  read  1742  in  place  of  1752. 
"    265 — Fifth  line  from  top  read  Andrew  for  William. 


PREFACE. 


After  earnest  and  repeated  solicitation  on  the  part  of  friends,  who 
set  forth  the  desirability  and  the  urgent  need  of  the  work  being  done, 
the  task  of  preparing  a  history  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  has  been 
commenced  and  it  is  expected  that  the  work  will  be  carried  forward 
and  up  to  January  i,  1896 — 158  years  from  the  first  settlement  of 
the  town. 

It  will  be  evident  to  all  who  give  the  subject  a  little  thought,  that 
the  history  of  this  town  must  be  largely  a  transcript  of  the  existing 
records.  All  that  can  be  made  known  to  the  public  must  be  drawn 
from  that  source.  The  earnest,  zealous,  strong-minded  Scotch  Pres- 
byterian settlers  finished  their  labors  long  years  ago.  We  cannot 
appeal  to  them  for  facts, — their  record  of  events  is  all  we  have. 

These  records  consist  of  town  and  parish  record  books  mostly. 
The  old  Presbyterian  church  records  have  disappeared  within  the 
past  twenty  years,  and  thus  one  very  interesting  source  of  informa- 
tion concerning  the  social,  religious  and  family  life  of  these  people  is. 
beyond  our  reach. 

In  the  records  accessible,  we  have  little  or  nothing  respecting  the 
social  or  family  life  of  the  people.  The  records  of  Marriage  Inten- 
tions, Marriages,  Births  and  Deaths  contain  all  that  there  is  con- 
cerning the  wives  and  daughters.  No  record  of  their  work  appears. 
We  know  they  spun  wool  and  flax,  they  wove  the  stout  cloth  for  their 
husband's  and  son's  wear,  as  well  as  for  themselves.  They  knitted 
the  yarn,  they  sewed  the  cloth  into  garments — but  there  is  no  hint  or 
intimation  in  the  records  of  their  having  any  part  in  the  social  or 
business  life  of  the  settlement. 

Exciting  events  required  action  by  the  town  ;  but  the  record  of 
such  action  fails  to  convey  to  us  anything  of  the  active  stirring 
interest  which  the  events  themselves  developed  among  the  people. 
We  cannot  hear  the  animated  discussion  and  debate,  which  we  know 
occurred  often,  and  was  long-continued  and  sharp,  as  we  read  the 
dull  record  of  their  decisions. 

The  plan  thus  far  pursued  has  been  to  give  every  town  meeting 
record  a  careful  reading,  and  to  copy  whatever  might  be  of  interest 
to  anyone  interested  in  the  history  of  the  town.  In  many  instances. 
2 


the  complete  record  of  town  meetings,  including  the  warrants  under 
which  they  were  held,  have  been  copied  entire  and  will  be  so  printed. 

Names  of  town  officers  are  given — not  every  year,  and  every 
officer,  but  for  many  years  the  full  roster  of  officers,  down  to  tything- 
mcn  and  "Hog  Constables",  are  given.  l"he  purpose  being  to  get  as 
many  names  of  inhabitants  in  print  as  possible. 

The  action  of  town  meetings  upon  all  matters  of  peculiar  or  extra- 
ordinary interest  will  be  given  in  full,  especially  action  of  the  town 
during  the  stirring  times  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  names  of 
all  who  served  in  that  struggle,  and  all  those  that  were  drawn  into 
rebellion  against  the  state  government,  under  ('apt.  Daniel  Shays, 
will  be  given,  so  far  as  they  are  obtainable. 

Shays  Rebellion  will  be  given  ample  space,  and  the  entire  corres- 
pondence between  Gen.  Lincoln,  in  command  of  the  state  militia  at 
Hadley,  and  Capt.  Daniel  Shays  and  other  insurgent  leaders  while 
they  with  their  iioo  followers  were  occupying  East  and  \\'est  hills  in 
Pelham  in  the  bleak  winter  of  1787,  will  be  included. 

Th€  Stephen  burroughs  episode  will  not  be  omitted,  nor  will  any 
other  event  of  interest  or  importance  of  which  there  are  accessible 
records. 

The  entire  contents  of  the  book  containing  the  Records  of  the 
Lisburn  "Propriety",  excepting  the  descriptions  of  the  183  lots  of  land 
into  which  the  tract  was  divided  in  the  three  divisions,  have  been 
copied,  and  a  reproduction  of  the  plans  of  the  surveys  of  William 
Voung  in  1739,  which  he  submitted,  and  were  made  a  part  of  the 
record,  have  been  prepared  for  the  work.  A  line  drawing  of  the  old 
Meeting  House,  where  for  153  consecutive  years  the  people  of  the 
town  have  gathered  for  town  meetings,  has  been  prepared  in  a  plate 
for  printing  in  the  book  ;  also  a  half-tone  plate  of  the  old  C'onkey 
Tavern  in  the  Hollow,  which  was  burned  in  1883. 

The  above  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  work  proposed,  and  the  prepar- 
ation will  continue,  but  no  further  printing  will  be  done  until  some 
•expression  of  the  demand  for  the  completed  work  is  obtained,  in 
•order  to  decide  how  many  volumes  may  be  disposed  of.  The 
responses  received  from  people  who  may  desire  such  a  history  as 
may  be  gathered  from  the  materials  available  will  determine  how 
many  volumes  shall  be  printed  or  whether  any  completed  ones 
shall  issue.  c.   o.   f. 

February  J,  i8g6. 


The  First  Settlers  of  the  Town  of  Pelham. 


The  people  who  settled  in  Pelham  in  1738-9  were  of  Scotch  origin, 
as  many  of  the  sturdy  names  would  indicate  if  it  was  not  definitely 
known  that  they  were  such.  They  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland 
and  were  commonly  called  Scotch-Irish,  though  nothing  was  more 
otTensive  than  the  term  Irish  as  applied  to  them,  and  the  onlv  reason 
why  it  was  ever  attached  to  them  came  from  the  fact  that  these 
people  and  their  ancestors  had  lived  in  the  North  of  Ireland  for 
many  years.  They  were  Scotchmen  living  in  Ireland,  and  as  they 
hailed  from  that  island  on  their  arrival  here,  it  was  natural  that  while 
their  real  nationality  was  quite  apparent,  their  coming  from  the  Green 
Isle  caused   the  use  of  the  double  name  to  express  their  nationality. 

The  history  of  these  Scotch  people  in  Ireland,  and  the  reason  of 
their  being  there,  may  properly  be  given  here  briefly. 

During  the  reign  of  James  I.  his  Catholic  subjects  in  the  north  of 
Ireland  rebelled,  and  upon  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  two 
million  acres  of  land,  comprising  nearly  all  of  six  northern  counties, 
came  into  possession  of  King  James  as  sole  owner. 

His  Scotch  and  English  subjects  were  offered  liberal  inducements 
in  the  way  of  grants  of  land,  and  in  other  formal  ways,  to  leave  their 
own  country  and  homes  and  settle  upon  these  vacated  lands  in  the 
north  of   Ireland,  from  which    the  Catholic    Irish  had   been  expelled. 

Believing  that  good  homes  could  in  this  way  be  secured,  large 
numbers  of  Scotchmen  of  strong  Presbyterian  faith  settled  upon  these 
lands  as  early  as  161 2.  In  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  there  were 
further  accessions  to  their  numbers,  but  it  was  in  thci  latter  part  of  the 
century,  during  the  reign  of  \\'illiam  and  Marw  that  by  far  the  larger 
number   migrated. 

In  their  new  homes  they  were  allowed  to  worship  according  to 
their  own  faith  and  forms  of  worship,  but  were  obliged  to  contribute 
one-tenth  of  their  income  in  support  of  the  clergy  of  the  established 
church.  They  also  became  aware  of  the  fact  that  they  were  only 
tenants  of  the  crown,  and  could  never  own  the  lands  they  cultivated 
in  fee. 


8  HISrORV     OK     I'KLHAM.     MASS. 

I'he  natural  enmity  between  their  Catholic-Irish  neighbors  in 
adjoining  counties,  and  these  sturdy  Scotch  Presbyterians  was  of 
such  a  nature  that  it  did  not  render  their  condition  one  to  be  desired, 
or  to  be  long  endured,  and  they  began  to  cast  about  for  relief. 

'lliey  had  heard  of  America,  and  had  learned  something  about  it 
from  one  who  had  been  there  and  returned  to  them,  and  they  desired 
to  know  more.  In  the  year  1718,  they  sent  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd  to  Mas- 
sachusetts to  present  an  address  to  Governor  Shute,  in  which  their 
desire  to  settle  in  New  England  was  expressed.  The  address  borne 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Boyd  was  signed  by  more  than  two  hundred  men.  nine 
of  them  being  ministers  of  the  gospel,  besides  three  other  graduates 
of  the  University  of  Scotland,  and  among  the  signatures  are  found 
the  names  of  John  Gray,  William  Johnson,  James  Gilniore  and  James 
Alexander,  who  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  this  town,  in  1739. 
Also  the  names  of  Alexander  Dunlop,  M.  A.,  Thomas  Dunlop,  and 
Andrew  Dunlop,  doubtless  ancestors  or  relatives  of  James  Dunlap, 
who  was  in  Pelham  as  early  as  1743,  and  probably  earlier. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Memorial,  as  printed  in  Parker's 
History  of  Londonderry.  N.  H. 

MEMORIAI.     TO    (;oV    SHUIK 

To  His  Excellency  the  Kiglit  Honoral)le  Collonel  Samuel  Siiitte  Covernor 
of  New  England. 

We  whose  names  are  Underwritten,  inhabitants  of  ye  North  of  Ireland, 
Doe  in  our  own  names,  and  in  the  names  of  many  others  of  our  Neighbors, 
Gentlemen,  Ministers,  Farmers  and  Tradesmen,  Commissionate  and  appoint 
our  trusty  and  well  l^eloved  friend,  the  Reverend  Mr.  William  Boyd  of 
Macasky,  to  His  Excellency  the  Right  Hororable  Collonel  Samuel  Suitte 
Governor  of  New  England,  and  to  assure  His  PLxcellency  of  our  sincere  and 
hearty  inclinations  to  transport  ourselves  to  that  very  excellent  and  renowned 
Plantation  upon  our  obtaining  from  his  Excellency  suitable  encouragement. 
.And  further  to  act  and  Doe  in  our  Names  as  his  Prudence  shall  direct. 

Given  under  our  hands  this  26th  day  of  March,  Annog.  Dom  17 18. 
The  favorable  report  brought  back  to  Ireland  by  Mr.  Boyd  caused 
the  larger  part  of  those  who  had  signed  the  above  Address  to  Gov. 
Shute  to  convert  their  property  into  money,  and  as  many  as  one 
hundred  families  embarked  for  Boston  in  five  ships,  where  they 
arrived  in  safety,  .August  4,  1718.  They  were  the  descendants  of 
Scotchmen  who  went  from  Argyleshire  in  Scotland,  in  1612.  and 
settled  upon  the  lands  in  I'lster  county,  Ireland,  from  which  the 
rebellious  Catholic  subjects  of  King  James  had  been  removed 
because  of  their  rebellious  action. 


IHK    KIKSI     SKITLKKS.  9 

It  is  said  that  a  goodly  portion  of  these  people  remained  in  Boston 
and  with  other  Scotch  people  already  there,  organized  the  first  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  Rev.  John  Moorhead  was  pastor.  Some  went 
to  Andover.  Sixteen  famiHes  left  in  a  body,  and  finally  settled  at 
Nutfield — now  Londonderry,  N.  H.  Others  of  them,  and  probably 
some  of  the  first  settlers  of  Pelham,  went  from  Boston  to  Worcester, 
and  settled,  but  the  colony  dispersed  later,  some,  as  we  have  said, 
being  in  the  colony  that  purchased  the  tract  of  16,662  1-2  acres 
included  in  the  towns  of  Pelham  and  Prescott.  of  Col.  John  Stoddard 
of  Northampton. 

Others  of  those  who  landed  in  P)Oston  went  west  and  settled  in  the 
state  of  New  York.  Some  families  settled  in  Spencer,  some  in 
Stowe,  some  in  Hopkinton,  a  few  passed  over  into  Connecticut. 
There  were  fresh  arrivals  in  the  years  following  1718,  and  with  the 
pioneer  families  were  among  the  settlers  of  Palmer  and  Colraine.  in 
this  state,  as  well  as  Pelham,  and  probably  other  towns. 

Just  when  the  negotiations  began  for  the  purchase  of  the  tract  of 
land  on  which  these  Scotch  Presbyterians  settled  does  not  appear, 
but  the  closing  of  the  bargain  is  shown  in  the  Articles  of  Agreement. 

PKSCRIPTION    (JF      THE    TKAC  J'    OK     KCJUIVALENT     LAND     PURCHASED    KY 
THE    NORTH    OF    IRELAND    SCOTCHMEN    IN     1 738. 

The  lands  purchased  of  Col.  John  Stoddard  of  Northampton  were 
a  portion  of  a  large  tract  known  as  the  Equivalent  lands,  which  is 
now  included  for  the  most  part  in  the  towns  of  Belchertown,  Ware, 
Pelham.  a  portion  of  Prescott  and  a  portion  of  Enfield.  Prescott 
was  a  part  of  Pelham  up  to  1822,  and  the  part  set  oft'  from  Pelham 
was  equivalent  land,  but  territory  not  of  the  equivalent  lands  has 
been  added  on  the  north. 

The  designation  *'  Equivalent  lands"  was  adopted  and  applied  at 
the  time  the  state  of  Massachusetts  made  a  grant  of  the  tract  above- 
mentioned  to  the  state  of  Connecticut  as  an  equivalent  for  the  towns 
of  Woodstock,  Somers,  Enfield  and  Suffield  in  the  last  named  state, 
which,  through  some  blunder  or  error  in  surveying,  were  supposed 
to  be  within  the  boundaries  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts  for  many 
years,  .\fter  it  became  certain  that  the  south  line  of  Massachusetts 
was  not  far  enough  south  to  include  these  four  towns  within  its  limits 
and  that  the  towns  were  in  the  state  of  Connecticut,  the  state  of 
Massachusetts    instead    of    acknowledging   the  error   and    giving   up 


lO  HISTORY    OF     I'Kl.HA.M,     MASS. 

control  over  these  towns,  still  claimed  and  exercised  jurisdiction  over 
them.  As  an  offset  to  this  absurd  claim,  and  instead  of  giving  up 
the  claim,  ihe  state  of  Massachusetts  offered  to  give  the  state  of 
("onnccticut  a  tract  of  wild  land  equal  in  extent  to  that  of  the  four 
towns  named,  as  an  equivalent.  After  sixty-five  years  of  controversy 
107,793  acres  were  granted  and  accepted  by  the  state  of  Connecticut 
in  full  satisfaction  of  the  absurd  claim.  'I'he  state  of  Connecticut 
held  the  legal  title  to  the  tract  of  equivalent  lands,  but  it  was  always 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts. 

.As  early  as  1716  Connecticut  began  selling  the  Equivalent  Lands, 
and  the  whole  tract  brought  but  £(>^t,,  or  about  one  farthing  per 
acre.  A  company  formed  in  Hoston.  of  which  Hon.  Jonathan  IJelcher, 
a  former  governor  of  the  state,  was  a  mem])er,  purchased  a  large 
portion  of  the  tract.  Men  in  Northampton  also  purchased,  Rev. 
Jonathan  Edwards  being  an  owner  of  equivalent  lands  at  one  time. 
All  the  money  from  the  sales  went  into  the  funds  of  Yale  College. 

Probably  there  were  no  land  syndicates  in  those  early  days  of  the 
modern  pattern,  booming  settlements  on  these  wild  lands,  but  the 
price  per  acre  (one  farthing)  which  Connecticut  realized  for  her 
Equivalent  T>ands.  and  the  price  paid  Col.  Stoddard,  per  acre,  l)y  the 
North  of  Ireland  Scotchmen  (2  1-3  pound  new  tenor)  indicates  that 
there  were  thrifty  land  speculat(jrs  in  those  days,  looking  for  cus- 
tomers upon  whom  they  could  unload  at  an  advance.  After  a  time 
the  people  living  in  the  four  Connecticut  towns  threw  off  the  control 
Massachusetts  had  exercised,  preferring  the  jurisdiction  of  the  state 
they  resided  in  to  that  of  Massachusetts. 

The  negotiations  of  Robert  Peibols,  blacksmith,  and  James 
Thornton,  yoeman.  and  both  of  Worcester,  was  for  a  tract  of  land 
about  three  and  one-half  miles  wide  and  seven  and  three-quarters 
miles  in  length, — the  several  range  lines  running  due  east  and 
west,  and  contained  16,662  1-2  acres.  Its  west  line  was  the  east  line 
of  Hadley  (now  Amherst).  The  tract  consists  mainly  of  two  high 
ridges  of  land  running  north  and  south  across  the  tract  and  the 
Great  Hollow  lying  between.  In  this  hollow,  with  its  abrupt 
sides,  the  west  branch  of  Swift  river  runs  south,  and  combining 
with  the  east  branch  beUnv  Enfield,  forms  a  sizable  stream  for 
manufacturing  purposes. 

l''ro!!i  the  east  line  of  Amherst  to  the  top  of  Pelham  West  Hill  it 
is  a  little  more  than   six  miles,  and  in  that   distance  there  is  a  rise  of 


IHE    KIRSr    SKTI'LKRS.  II 

about  nine  hundred  feet.  The  old  meeting  house  is  not  quite  1200 
feet  above  tide  water,  but  Mount  Lincohi  and  another  elevation  a 
little  south  of  the  center  is  quite  1200  feet  above  tide,  while  Amherst 
center  is  l)ut  300  feet  above  tide  le\el.  Kroni  the  West  Hill  east  to 
the  Hollow,  the  descent  is  abrupt  and  continues  for  about  two  miles. 
When  the  West  Branch  is  crossed;  then  for  about  two  miles,  the  up 
grade  is  sharper  if  anything  than  the  descent  from  the  west.  When 
the  summit  of  East  Hill  is  reached,  straight  west  over  the  Hollow 
and  at  about  the  same  level,  is  the  West  Hill  in  full  view.  The 
descent  to  the  east  from  the  East  Hill  begins  at  once  and  ends  on 
the  plains  of  Greenwich,  through  which  flows  the  waters  that  make 
the  east  branch  of  Swift  river.  These  two- ridges  are  by  no  means 
smooth  and  rounded,  but  are  broken  into  ravines  along  either  slope, 
down  which  How  the  sparkling  rivulets  on  their  way  to  the  lower 
ground.  On  the  westward  side  of  the  West  Hill  is  a  deep  depression, 
known  as  the  Valley,  which  leads  out  towards  Amherst. 

Judge  Ithamar  Conkey,  in  his  centennial  address  at  Pel  ham,  Jan- 
uary 15,  1843,  ^poke  of  this  tract  as  follows: 

'•This  town  and  the  adjacent  territory,  previous  to  their  being 
settled,  were  distinguished  as  being  excellent  hunting  grounds — they 
abounded  with  deer  and  other  valuable  game,  and  much  damage  was 
undoubtedly  done  to  the  lands  by  those  persons  who  resorted  here 
for  that  purpose.  It  was  a  practice  among  the  hunters,  in  those 
days,  to  set  a  line  of  fires,  encircling  a  large  plot  of  ground,  which, 
burning  in  every  direction,  would  gradually  encompass  the  game  in 
a  narrow  circle  and  so  it  would  become  an  easy  prey  to  its  pursuers. 
Thus  in  process  of  time  the  native  forests,  which  were  extensive  and 
valuable,  and  which  covered  the  lands  with  a  dense  foliage  Avere 
nearly  destroyed,  and  much  of  the  vegetable  substance  which  usually 
collects  in  a  forest  were  consumed,  thereby  rendering  the  lands  less 
productive  and  much  less  valuable. 

This  practice  was  continued  many  years,  and  the  tires  were  known 
to  burn  in  some  parts  of  the  territory,  especially  in  the  low  marshy 
places,  for  several  months  together.  But  the  lands  which  had  been 
thus  burned  over  were  soon  covered  with  a  species  of  wild  grass- 
growing  rapidly  and  luxuriantly — thus  giving  it  the  appearance  of  an 
extensive  rolling  prairie,  and  affording  very  excellent  pasturage  for 
cattle.  P'or  many  years  great  numbers  of  cattle  and  horses  were  sent 
out  from  the   towns  on   the  Connecticut   river  to  graze  on  these  hills 


12  HIsroRY    OK    PKLHAM,     MASS. 

during  the  summer  season,  and  to  make  the  pasturage  sweeter  and 
facilitate  its  growth,  the  practice  of  burning  over  the  lands  was  con- 
tinued a  considerable  time  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  place,  and 
in  fact  until  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  chose  a  committee  to  prose- 
cute the  offenders  and  thus  save  their  lands  from  further  destruction." 

Of  the  wisdom  of  the  settlers  in  selecting  this  tract,  Judge  Conkey 
says:  "Could  we  be  transported  back  to  those  days  and  view  this 
land  as  it  was  thus  situated,  see  the  natural  make  and  construction 
of  the  soil, — the  beautiful  streams  of  water  which  How  through  it, 
the  granite  formations  and  the  easy  and  natural  facilities  for  improve- 
ment, when  compared  with  some  of  the  adjoining  territories,  we 
should  be  convinced  of  the  wisdom  and  good  judgment  manifested 
in  the  selection.  No  spot  of  ground  east  of  Hadley  and  west  of  the 
then  existing  settlements  in  Worcester  county  could  be  found  more 
favorable  to  successful  agricultural  improvement." 

The  condition  of  the  soil,  at  the  time  of  the  purchase,  despite  the 
frequent  burnings  was  doubtless  more  fertile  than  at  present,  a  fact 
that  applies  to  most  hill-town  tracts,  and  the  east  hill  was  better 
than  the  west  for  agricultural  purposes,  not  being  as  stony  and 
rough  as  the  west  hill.  Rye,  oats,  corn  and  other  grains  were  raised, 
as  well  as  tiax.  The  forest  growth  is  remarkable  in  regard  to  quick- 
ness with  which  newly  cleared  land  will  clothe  itself  again,  and  this 
fact  has  been  the  reason  why  the  people  for  the  last  fifty  years  have 
been  able  to  furnish  lumber,  railroad  ties,  and  wood  to  neighboring 
towns,  in  large  quantities;  in  fact,  relying  upon  this  method,  and  the 
furnishing  of  stone  for  building  purposes,  for  income  rather  than 
upon  the  raising  of  agriculturnl  crops  for  the  market.  Potatoes  of 
the  finest  quality  are  produced,  and  have  always  been  considered 
better  than  those  raised  along  the  Connecticut  Valley.* 

From  the  common  on  the  west  hill  near  the  old  meeting  house 
there  is  a  fine  view  of  the  Connecticut  valley,  and  to  the  north-west 
Greylock,  the   highest    land    in   the   state   can   be  seen,  and  also  the 


*  The  potato  is  said  to  have  been  raised  in  Pelham  as  early  as  1740,  or  ten  years  before 
the  people  of  Amherst  and  Northampton  raised  them.  The  potato  was  regarded  as  a 
curiosity  rather  than  for  use  as  food  at  that  time,  and  was  coarse  giained  and  rank  in  taste. 
It  is  said  Josiah  Pierce  of  Hadley  raised  eight  bushels  in  1763,  to  the  great  wonder  and  aston- 
ishment of  his  neighbors  who  wondered  what  he  could  do  with  them.  The  potato  was 
regarded  by  some  as  a  sort  of  forbidden  fruit,  and  a  hill  or  two  was  planted  in  gardens  as  a 
curiosity.  It  is  said  that  Rev.  Jonathan  Hubbard  of  .Sheffield  came  near  being  handled  by 
the  church  for  raising  twenty  bushels  in  one  year,  it  being  thought  a  matter  of  sufficient 
importance  for  the  church  to  take  action  upon  as  a  moral  question. 


Green  Mountains  of  southern  Vermont.  Almost  due  east,  Wachuset, 
the  next  highest  mountain  in  the  state,  is  visible,  and  looking  north- 
eastward, across  the  hill-top  village  of  New  Salem,  Monadnock  looms 
up  across  the  state  line  in  New  Hampshire.  The  air  upon  these  two 
hilltops  is  pure  and  healthful,  and  the  Great  Hollow  between  is  not 
swampy  or  malarious,  the  soil  being  light  and  sandy  and  more  easily 
cultivated    than  in    portions  more   rough  and    stony  along  the  slopes. 


Book  No 


This  Book  belongs  To  the 

Proprietors  of  ye  Northerly  Half  of 

a  Tract  of   Equivalent  land  Lying  on  ye 

East  of  Hadley  &ct 

&  is  Libo  A  John  Chandler  Jun 

Proprietors  Clerk 
Lisburn  So  Called. 


WOKCESTKK    SS~W()KCESTER  FeB  26   1 738-9. 

John  Chandler  Jun  Esq  being;  chosen  clerk  of  the  Proprietors  of  a  tract  of 
land  lying  in  the  county  of  Hampshire  East  of  and  adjoining  to  Hadley 
which  James  Thornton  Robert  Peibols  and  others  purchased  of  John  Stod- 
dard Esq  was  sworn  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  his  office  the  day  and  year 
above  said  by  me 

William  Jenlson 

Justice  of  tlie  I'eace 
Entered  from  Original  by 

John  Chandler  Jun 

Proprietors  Clerk. 

Articles  of  Agreement  Indented  and  made  ye  twentyeth  day  of  October 
seventeen  hundred  and  thirty  eight  Between  Robert  Peibols  of  Worcester  in 
the  county  of  Worcester  and  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  Eng- 
land, Blacksmith,  on  the  one  part  and  James  Thornton  of  Worcester  afore- 
said yeoman  on  the  other  part  witnesseth,  That  Whereas  on  the  26  day  of 
September  last  past  the  said  Robert  Peibols  and  James  Thornton  have 
Jointly  covenanted  and  contracted  with  Honorable  John  Stoddard  of  North 
Hampton  in  ye  County  of  Hampshire  Esq  for  one  fourth  part  of  that  tract 
of  Equivolent  Lands  Lying  Easterly  of  Hadley  ( Except  eight  hundred 
acres)  which  he  bought  of  the  Executors  of  Dame  Mary  Saltonstall  Late  of 
Boston  D'sd  which  land  was  Laid  out  by  Matthew  Allen  Roger  Wolcott  and 
Ebenezer  Pomroy  Esqr  for  Twenty  nine  Thousand  Eight  hundred  iJv:  seventy 


14  HISIOKV    OK     I'KIJiAM,     MASS. 

four  Acres,  And  also  for  one  Eighth  part  of  said  Tract  of  Land  whicli  said 
John  Stoddard  purchased  of  Capt  Roswell  Sallonstall  of  Hrandford  in  the 
county  of  New  fiaven  and  also  for  an  Eighth  part  more  of  said  tract  of  land 
which  fell  to  or  belonged  to  said  Stoddard  by  Division,  making  tlu-  whole 
ye  one  Half  of  said  Tract  of  Land  Excepting  L2ight  hundred  part  of  ye 
fourth  part  which  ye  said  Stoddard  Purchased  of  the  I'^xcculors  of  Dame 
Mary  Saltonstall  as  aforesaid. 

And  Whereas  they  have  covenanted  to  pay  foi"  the  Same  as  follows  \'iz  : 
Fifteen  hundred  pounds  within  Twelve  months  from  the  26th  day  of  Sep- 
tember as  Aforesaid  &  Three  Thousand  pounds  more  in  Eighteen  .Months 
from  said  Date,  and  both  sums  to  sd  Stoddard,  and  Also  the  Sum  of  Nine 
hundred  pounds  to  Josiah  Willard  of  Boston  Esq  and  the  other  Executors 
of  Said  Dame  Mary  Saltonstall  aforesaid  Deceased  on  or  before 'the  30th 
day  of  June  1739,  and  the  further  sum  of  Nine  hundred  Pounds  more  to  said 
Executors  on  or  before  the  Thirtieth  Day  of  June  1740  Together  with  Law- 
ful Interest  from  the  30th  day  of  June  last  Past  and  also  the  sum  of  Five 
hundred  to  ye  Aforesaid  Roswell  Saltonstall  at  or  before  the  Seventh  Day 
of  September  next  Ensuing,  and  the  Further  sum  of  F"ive  Hundred  pounds 
on  or  before  ye  Seventh  day  of  September  which  will  be  in  the  Year  of  our 
Lord  1740,  Together  with  Lawful  Interest  Therefor  from  the  Seventh  of 
September  last  Past,  All  said  sums  of  Money  amounting  unto  the  Sum  of 
Seven  Thousand  and  three  hundred  pounds  and  are  to  be  paid  in  Bills  of 
Credit  of  ye  Old  Tenor  &  for  which  the  said  Robert  Peibols  and  James 
Thornton  are  within  six  months  from  the  Said  Twenty  sixth  day  of  Septem- 
ber last  pa.st  to  procure  and  Deliver  him  said  Stoddard  Good  and  Sufficient 
Bonds  Executed  by  Persons  of  Sufficient  I'^state  &  such  persons  whose 
Bonds  shall  be  to  said  Stoddards  Acceptance  of  a  certain  Instrument  of  that 
well  Iilxecuted  and  called  an  Indenture  under  the  Hands  and  Seals  of  said 
John  Stoddard  Robert  Peibols  and  James  Thornton  will  fully  and  at  large 
appear  Reference  thereto  being  had. 

And  Whereas  the  Said  Robert  Peibols  &  James  Thornton  being  fully 
determined  to  Bring  forward  the  Settlement  of  Said  Lands  by  Settling  fourty 
Families  thereon  in  the  Space  of  three  years  from  Date  hereof  Viz  Each  of 
them  Twenty  familys.  And  in  order  to  proceed  therein  with  the  more 
despatch  as  well  as  the  l)etter  to  enable  them  Raise  the  money  for  which 
they  are  Joyntly  to  pay  for  the  Purchase  as  aforesaid  and  for  the  building 
and  Erecting  a  Meeting  House  for  the  Pul)lick  Worship  of  God  and  Settling 
a  Minister  and  laying  out  of  suitable  and  convenient  Highways  and  for 
Making  all  needful  Bridges  causways  and  Roads  in  said  Settlement  they  do 
by  these  Presents  P^ach  one  for  Himself  and  for  his  Heirs  executors  and 
Administrators  Absolutely  covenant  and  engage  to  ye  other  in  ye  Way  and 
Manner  following.  That  is  to  say.  Imprimis,  the  said  Robert  Peibols  for 
Himself  and  for  his  Heirs  executors  and  adms  engages  to  present  proper 
security  in  the  time  and  Manner  Aforesaid  to  said  Stoddards  Acceptance 
for  the  one  half  of  all  ye  aforesaid  sums  of  Money.  And  the  said  James 
Thornton    for   himself    and    for    his    heirs    I'^xecutors    and     .Administrators 


engaged  to  procure  proper  Security  in  ye  time  and  Manner  aforesaid  to  Said 
Stoddards  Acceptance  for  one  half  of  all  the  aforesaid  sums  of  Money. 

Secondly— That  they  will  forthwith  or  with  as  Much  speed  as  conveniently 
they  can,  have  said  land  Measured  and  Bounded  and  then  proceed  to  lay 
out  Sixty  one  Lots  of  One  Hundred  Acres  Each  so  as  best  to  Accommodate 
them  for  Settlements,  in  the  doing  of  which  they  will  lav  out  Needful  and 
convenient  Roads  and  ways  all  which  Lotts  shall  draw  an  equal  proportion 
in  all  after  Divisions  till  the  whole  of  said  Land  shall  be  laid  out. 

Thirdly,  that  one  of  said  Lots  shall  Immediately  be  Sequestered  and  -Sett 
Apart  for  ye  settled  Ordained  Minister  in  said  Plantations  with  all  future 
drafts  and  the  Same  is  hereby  Ratified  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever, 
and  to  be  laid  as  convendable  as  the  same  may  be  and  they  Oblige  tliem- 
selves  to  Ratify  and  Coniirm  ye  same  to  ye  Person  who  shall  be  first  settled 
and  Ordained  as  Aforesaid  for  the  Incouragement  of  those  persons  they 
shall  admit  as  Partners  or  Settlers  with  them. 

Fourthly,  that  as  soon  as  ye  said  Ministers  Lot  shall  be  sett  off  that  then 
the  said  Robert  Peibols  shall  have  the  Liberty  of  Choosing  Two  lots  In  that 
he  sees  cause  without  Draft  and  when  lie  has  so  done  then  the  said  James 
Thornton  shall  have  Liberty  to  choose  two  lots  as  he  sees  cause  without 
Draft.  That  the  remaining  lots  shall  be  numbered  and  drawn  for  by  said 
Partys  or  those  they  shall  admit  as  partners  or  Settlers  with  them — so  tliat 
each  party  shall  have  with  those  who  held  under  them  Thirty  Lots. 

Fifthly,  That  the  charges  arising  in  said  l-'lantation  by  the  surveying  and 
bounding  of  ye  whole  of  said  tract  and  Laying  out  the  lots  as  aforesaid  and 
the  After  Divisions,  all  needful  ways  and  Roads  and  Making  Bridges  and 
Causways  and  tlie  settling  of  a  Minister  and  building  and  finishing  a 
Meeting  House  and  all  unforeseen  Charges  for  ye  proposing  and  com- 
pleating  what  is  aforementioned  shall  be  borne  by  the  Persons  owning  the 
said  Lotts  Viz— One  Lott  to  pay  one  si.xtieth  part  and  so  proportionately 
for  what  each  party  shall  own. 

Sixthly,  The  said  Robert  Peibols  engages  for  himself  and  for  his  heirs 
executors  and  Administratsrs  To  have  with  himself  Twenty  familysof  Ciood 
Conversation  Settled  on  the  Premises  who  shall  be  such  as  were  Inhabitants 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  or  their  Decendants  being  Protestants  and  none 
be  admitted  but  such  as  luring  good  and  undeniable  Credentials  or  certifi- 
cates of  their  being  Persons  of  good  conversation  and  of  the  Presbyterian 
Persuasion  as  used  in  the  Church  of  Scotland  and  Conform  to  the  Discipline 
thereof  unless  they  shall  otherwise  agree  hereafter,  said  families  to  be 
actually  settled  on  the  premises  in  three  years  from  the  date  hereof  Each 
to  have  a  House  of  at  least  liighteen  feet  Square  and  Seven  feet  studd  well 
Inclosed  and  made  Habitable  and  upon  one  of  said  hundred  Acre  lots,  and 
have  three  acres  part  thereof  improved  by  Plowing  and  Mowing  and  the 
said  James  Thornton  engages  for  himself  for  his  heirs  executors  and  adms 
to  have  with  himself  Twenty  families  settled  on  the  Premises  in  the  time 
and  way  and  Manner  and  in  all  regards  as  discribed  as  aforesaid  nothing 
excepted  or  Rejected  and  who  shall  each  one  perform  as  to  lalioring  and 


l6  Krs■|•()K^■    OK     HKLHAM,     MASS. 

'Improving  as  aforesaici     \'i/.    as  is  to  he  clone  on  the  part  of  said  Robert 
Peibols. 

Seventlily,  Tiiat  each  parly  liave  liberty  in  his  own  name  and  right  to 
•dispose  of  his  share  and  Interest  in  the  premises  as  he  sees  cause  to  Inable 
him  fully  to  comply  with  what  they  respectively  have  engaged  to  do  as 
herein  already  stated. 

Eightly— That  in  the  first  and  all  future  Divisions  all  Persons  who  shall 
be  admitted  as  Partners  or  Settlers  shall  iiave  a  vote  in  propartion  to  his 
Right  in  all  Meetings  Hereafter  to  be  called  unless  Debarred  by  some 
Previous  contract. 

Ninthly — They  Each  one  engage  for  themselves  and  all  tiiose  who  shall 
hold  under  them  that  none  of  them  shall  take  any  cattle  to  Feed  in  ye  woods 
in  ye  bounds  and  Limits  of  the  aforesaid  Settlement  in  the  Sumor  season 
but  what  are  their  own  property  unless  ye  settlers  hereafter  shall  agree  to  ye 
same  and,  Finally,  that  they  will  with  convenient  speed  procure  a  Legal! 
Meeting  of  ye  Proprietors  of  said  Lands  as  soon  as  they  have  heard  of  all  or 
part  of  their  settlers,  and  in  the  proprietors  book  entered  the  foregoing 
articles  of  Agreement  as  ye  foundation  of  their  Settlement  and  future 
Intending.  Hereby  Covenanting  for  themselves  and  for  their  several  and 
Representative  Heirs  executors  administrators  and  assigns  that  they  will 
proceed  agreeable  to  what  is  above  written  on  the  Forfeiture  of  Five  fiun- 
dred  pounds  Ijy  him  who  shall  Fail  to  be  paid  to  the  other  besides  Treble 
Damages. 

In  Witness  whereof  tlie  Party  to  thees  Presents  liave  hereunto  affixed 
their  Hands  and  Seals  the  day  and  year  aforesaid. 

It  is  agreed  Notwithstanding  aforemention  that  Peibols  shall  choose  one 
of  his  two  Lots  then  Thornton  one,  Then  Peibols  his  Second  Then  Thornton 
his  Second. 

Robert  Peibols       (Seal) 
James  Thornton      (Seal) 
Signed  Sealed  and  Delivered 
in  presence  of  us 

Mathkw  (Ikav    I  in 
John  Chanldi.r  Jun 

WoRt  i:stek  ss— Worcester  (J(  tober  26,  1738 
Robert  Peibols  and  James  Thornton  The  Subscril)ers  personally  appearing 
and  respectively  Acknowledged  the  foregoing   Instrument  containing  Seven 
Pages  to  be  their  act  and  deed  before  Me 

John  Chandler  Jln   Im-I'a 
Entered  from  the  Original  by 

John   Chandlicr  Jun  Clerk. 

deed     KROM     col.     STODDARD. 

To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come.     (Greeting 

Know  ye  that  John  Stoddard  of  North-Hampton  in  ye  County  of  Hamp- 
shire in  the  Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  ICngland,  for  and  in 


IHK    FIKSl     .SKTTLERS.  1 7- 

Consideration  of  the  Sum  of  Seven  Thousand  three  Hundred  Pounds  in  bills- 
of  Public  Credit  of  ye  Old  Tenor  in  hand  already  Received  of  the  Persons 
hereafter  named  the  Receipt  whereof  he  doth  hereby  Aci<nowledge  and 
himself  thereby  fully  satisfied  and  contented,  hath  given  granted,  bargained 
and  sold.  And  by  these  presents  doth  fully  freely  Clearly  and  Absolutely 
Give  grant,  Bargain  sell  Release  convey  and  confirm  unto  them  their  heirs 
and  Assigns  forever  one  half  (excepting  Eight  Hundred  acres)  of  that  tract, 
of  equivolent  land  Lying  and  being  in  ye  County  of  Hampshire  bounded 
Westerly  on  Hadley,  Southwardly  on  another  Tract  of  Equivolent  land 
Commonly  called  Cold  Spring  Township.  Eastwardly  on  land  called  Ouabbin 
North  on  land  now  called  Wells  Town,  Which  Tract  of  land  was  laid  out  by 
Mathew  Allen,  Roger  Woolcott,  and  Ebenezer  Pomroy  Esq"  for  Twenty 
nine  Thousand  Eight  Hundred  and  Seventy  four  acres,  A  More  particular 
Discription  of  which  land  does  appear  by  Abar  (Cohun)  entered  in  ye  Secre- 
taries ofiice  in  Boston,  which  half  part  (Excepting  Eight  Hundred  acres  as 
aforesaid)  by  a  Division  lately  Made  by  the  owners  or  proprietors  of  said 
Equivolent  Land  is  laid  seperatly  and  contained  in  ye  first  lott  and  does  con- 
tain ye  whole  of  said  lott  (excepting  thirty  eight  acres  two  Roods  and  thirty 
three  perches  which  belongs  to  Mr.  Elisha  Williams  (Doct)  of  Yale  College,, 
which  lott  Lyeth  on  the  north  part  of  said  Equivolent  Land  and  from  said 
line  Extends  South  one  Thousand  and  Eleven  Rods  and  Eleven  feet  to 
Monuments  Raised  at  Each  End  and  does  Extend  from  Hadley  bounds  on 
the  west  to  the  East  Bounds  of  said  Equivolent  land,  A  more  particular 
description  of  which  lot  may  be  seen  in  ye  Deed  of  Partition  bearing  date 
ye  .seventh  day  of  September  1738,  which  said  half  (excepting  as  aforesaid)^ 
the  said  John  Stoddard  doth  hereby  sell  and  confirm  as  aforesaid,  to  the 
following  persons  and  in  ye  following  proportion  (viz)  To  Roljert  Peibols- 
five  sixtieth  parts;  To  Patrick  Peibols  one  sixtieth  part;  To  Robert  Loth- 
eridge  two  sixtieth  parts,  to  William  Gray  Jun  one  sixtieth  part.  To  John 
McConkey,  one  sixtieth  part.  To  Alexander  McConkey  one  sixtieth  part.  To 
Alexander  Turner  one  sixtieth  part,  to  John  Stinson  one  sixtieth  part,  to 
James  Hood  one  sixtieth  part.  To  Adam  Johnson  two  sixtieth  parts,  To 
Ephraim  Cowan  one  sixtieth  part.  To  George  Cowan  one  sixtieth  part,  To- 
Samuel  Gray  two  sixtieth  parts.  To  John  Gray  Jun  three  sixtieth  parts,  To 
Thomas  Dick  one  sixtieth  part.  To  John  Dick  one  sixtieth  part,  To  John 
Alexander  one  sixtieth  part.  To  James  Allexander  one  sixtieth  part,  To' 
James  McAllach  one  sixtieth  part.  To  Samuel  Thomas  one  sixtieth  part.  To 
James  Taylor  two  sixtieth  parts,  (AH  the  above  named  persons  are  of  Wor- 
cester In  the  County  of  Worcester,  except  (George  Cowan  who  is  of  Concord 
in  the  County  of  Middlesex)  To  John  Fergerson  of  Grafton  one  sixtieth 
part.  To  James  Gilmore  of  Boston  two  sixtieth  parts,  To  Abraham  Patterson 
of  Liecester  in  ye  County  of  Worcester  one  sixtieth  part.  To  Thomas  Low- 
den  of  Leicester  one  sixtieth  part.  To  John  Chandler  of  Worcester  one 
sixtieth  part,  To  John  Johnson  of  Shrewsbury  one  sixtieth  part.  To  Adam 
Clark  of  Worcester  one  sixtieth  part.  To  James  Thornton  of  Worcester 
fourteen  sixtieth  parts. 


•|8  HISTORY    OK     ri'.I.HAM,     MASS. 

'I'o  have  and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  half  part  of  equivolent  land  (except  the 
Eight  Hundred  acres  as  before  excepted)  and  in  that  part  thereof  above 
described  with  ye  Appurtenances  and  Priviliges  thereto  belonging,  To  them 
the  above  named  persons,  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever  according  to  their 
several  and  Respective  proportions  as  before  expressed,  to  their  several  and 
Respective  proper  use  benefit  and  behoof  forevermore,  and  the  said  John 
Stoddard  for  himself  his  heirs  etc.  Doth  covenant  and  engage  to  and  with 
the  before  named  persons  their  Respective  heirs  and  assigns,  that  before 
and  until  the  ensealing  thereof  as  ye  true  sole  and  lawful  owner  of  the 
premises  and  stood  seized  thereof  in  his  own  right  in  Fee  simple  and  had  in 
himself  good  Right  and  full  power  and  Lawful  authority  to  Grant  bargain 
sell  aliene  Release  convey  and  confirm  the  same  as  aforesaid  and  that  free 
and  Clear  and  Clearly  executed  acquitted  and  discharged  of  and  from  all 
leans  and  other  Gifts  grants  Jjargains  Sale  Lease,  Mortgage,  Wills,  entails, 
Joyntures,  Thirds,  Executions  and  Incumbrances  whatsoever,  and  the  said 
John  Stoddard  doth  hereby  further  Conenant  and  engage  the  before  granted 
premises  with  ye  Appurtenances  to  them  the  before  named  perrons  and 
■other  Respective  heirs  and  Assigns  forever:  to  warrant  secure  and  defend 
against  the  Lawful  Claims  and  demands  of  any  and  every  person  and  persons 
whatsoever.  In  Witness  wliereof  he  hath  hereunto  set  his  hand  and  seal 
this  twenty  first  day  of  January  in  the  twelfth  year  of  the  Reign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord  (ieorge  of  Great  Lritain  as  King  Annogy  Dom  1738-9  John 
Stoddard  and  a  seal  signed  sealed  and  Delivered  in  presence  of  ye  witness 
Klisha  .Marsh.  Cor-nel  Waldo 

WoKt'KSTliR    SS    WORCESTKK    FlJl    lyj.S 

John  Stoddard  Esqr  Subscrii^er  to  the  foregoing  Instrument  personally 
•Appearing  freely  Acknowledged  the  same  to  be  his  act  and  Deed 

Before  me  William  Jkxiso.x  Justice  of  Peace. 
Hamivsiiirk  ss  Sfkixgfieli)  Fe]'.  3d   i73S-() 
Received  and  Recorded  in  ye  Records  of  Deeds  for  the  County  of  Hamp- 
shire Lib"  1.  Folio  220  &ct 

I'r  Wm    1'\.N(  hox  Ju\    Redr 
Entered  from  the  Original.  Deed 

Pr  JoHX  Chaxuler    Proprietors  Clerk 

■  Vi'i'LicAi  ION   FOR    THE    FiRsr   MKKriNc;.    Feb.  2,   1738-9. 

To  the  Honorable  John  Stoddard  Esq  one  of  His  Majestys  Justices  of  the 
Peace  for  the  County  of  Hampshire.  Ss.  We  the  Subscribers  Proprietors 
■of  the  Northerly  half  of  that  Tract  of  ICquivaknt  Land  (  Excepting  Eight 
Hundred  Acres)  Lying  and  being  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  bounded 
Westerly  on  Hadley,  Southerly  on  another  Tract  of  Equivalent  Land  com- 
monly called  Cold  Spring  Township,  Easterly  on  Land  called  Quabbin, 
North  on  Land  now  called  Wells  Town,  Humbly  apply  to  you  Hour  & 
Pray  you  will  please  to  (irant  a  Warrant  directed  to  some  one  of  us, 
Requiring  ye  person  to  whom  the  same  is  directed  pursuant  to  law  to  warn 
-and  notih  all   the    Proprietors  of  said   Tract  of  land  to  A.ssemble  and  meet 


[RSr    SET'l'LKRS. 


•9 


together  on  Monda\^  the  26th  day  of  Fel)'ry  Currant  by  Ten  of  the  Clock  in 
the  forenoon  at  the  present  Dwelling  House  of  Capt  Daniell  Heywood  in 
Worcester.     Then  and  there  to  transact  the  following  i^articulars 

I.  To  Choose  a  Moderator  for  said  Meeting. 

II.  To  Choose  a  Clerk  for  said  Proprietee. 

III.  To  Agree  upon  a  Suitable  Method  for  bringing  on  a  Speedy  Settle- 
ment of  said  Lands,  and  in  order  thereto— ist  to  Choose  a  committee  and 
surveyor  to  take  an  exact  survey  of  the  whole  tract  of  Land,  and  to  see  it 
well  bounded  out,  &  2dly  to  lay  out  Sixty  one  home  lotts  so  as  best  to 
Accommodate  a  Settlement. 

3dly     To  lay  out  suitable  Roods  &  ways 
4th     To  (".rant  a  lot  or  Riglit  to  tlie  tirst  settled  Minister. 
5th     To  Draw  Lotts  according  to  Lacii  ones  Interest. 

6tli  To  Agree  upon  Proper  Methods  for  laying  out  all  aforesaid  Divisions. 
7th  To  Raise  Money  for  defraying  all  Charges  proper  to  be  born  by  ye 
I'roprietors  Iieitherto  and  also  for  Defraying  the  Charges  tliat  may  arise  for 
the  future  \'iz  for  building  a  Meeting  House  Settling  a  Minister,  Making 
Bridges  Causways  and  Roads  and  for  defraying  any  Unforeseen  Charges 
that  may  arise  in  perfecting  and  Compleating  the  settlement  of  the  place. 

I\'     To  Agree  how   Meetings  shall  be  called  for  the  future  and  to  Pass 
orders  for  the   Managing   Improving    Dividing   or  Disposing  of  said  lands, 
and  finally  to  do  any  other  thing  Conducive  to  the  good  of  the  community 
Herein  you  will  greatly  Oblige  Sr  Your  Honors  Humlile  Servants 
Worcester  February  2:  1S38-9 

Ro]3ERT  Baki;ek 
Robert  Lotheridge 
John  Dick 
Patrick  Peibles 
John  Chandler  Jux 
Jame.s  Thornton 
Robert  Peibles 
W^illiam  John.son 
John  Stinson 
Samuel  (jRay. 

wakrani-   for    FiK.sr   mektini;   ok   froprikior.s. 

HAMPSHIRE    SS 

[l.  s.]  To  Patrick  Peibles  of  Worcester  In  the  Councy  of  Worcester 

&  one  of  tlie  foregoing  Subscribers     Greeting. 

Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  Application  you  ai-e  hereijy  Required  In  His 
Majestys  name  to  Warn  aud  Notifi  (Agreeable  to  the  Direction  of  the  law 
in  tliat  Case  Made  and  Provided)  the  Proprietors  of  the  Tract  of  Land 
within  mentioned  to  Assemble  &  Meet  at  the  Time  &  place  within  men- 
tioned. Then  and  there  To  Transact  on  ail  or  Such  of  ye  Particulars  in 
Said  Application  Named  as  they  shall  see  cause,  Hereof  you  are  not  To 
Fail  And  make  due   and  timely    Return  hereof  and  of  your  doings  herein, 


20  HISTORY    OK     I'EI.HAM,     MASS. 

Given   under  my   hand  and   seal   at  North  Hampton  this  Second  day  of 
February  in  ye  12th  year  of  the  Majestys  Reighn  Anno  Dom*^  1738-9 

John  Stoddard. 
Worcester  Feb  2d  1738-9. 
By  Virtue  of  the  within  warrant  I  have  notified  ye  Within  Proprietors  to 
meet  at  the  time  and  place  within  Mentioned  to  Transact  on  the  within 
Affairs,  by  Posting  up  a  Notification  in  the  Town  of  Hadley  on  which  the 
land  adjoins  And  one  in  the  town  of  Worcester  where  the  Proprietors 
Mostly  Dwell.  Attest         Partrick  Peibles 

I-'ntered  from  tlie  Original  Application  &  Warrant. 

Pr  John  Chandler  Jun  Proprietors  Clerk 

notification    to  the  proprietors. 

Pursuant  to  a  Warrant  to  me  Directed  by  the  Honorable  John  Stoddard 
Esq,  One  of  His  Majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Hampshire 

The  Proprietors  of  the  Northerly  half  of  that  Tract  of  Equivalent  Land 
(Excepting  Eight  Hundred  Acres)  Lying  and  being  in  the  County  of  Hamp- 
shire, bounded  Westerly  on  Hadley,  Southerly  on  Another  Tract  of  Equiva- 
lent Land  Commonly  Called  Cold  Spring  Township,  Easterly,  on  land  called 
Quabbin,  North  on  land  now  called  Wells  Town,  are  hereby  notified  to 
Assemble  and  meet  together  on  Monday  the  26th  day  of  February  Currant 
by  Ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon,  at  the  Present  Dwelling  House  of 
Capt  Daniel  Haywood  in  Worcester,  Then  and  there  to  Transact  on  the 
following  particulars,  Viz 

I  To  Choose  a  Moderator  for  said  Meeting. 

II  To  Choose  a  Clerk  for  said  Proprietee. 

III  To  Agree  upon  suitable  Methods  for  bringing  on  a  speedy  settlement 
of  said  lands.  And  in  order  thereto 

First,  to  Choose  a  Committee  and  Surveyors  to  take  an  exact  survey  of 
the  whole  Tract  and  see  it  well  bounded  out  & 

Secondly  to  lay  out  Sixty  one  Home  Lotts  so  as  best  to  accommodate  a 
Settlement 

Thirdly,     To  lay  out  suitable  Roads  and  Ways. 

Fourthly,     To  Grant  a  Lot  or  Right  for  the  first  Settled  minister. 

Fifthly,     To  draw  Lotts  according  to  Each  ones  Interest. 

Sixthly,     To  Agree  upon  proper  Methods  for  laying  out  all  after  Divisions 

Seventhly,  To  Raise  Money  for  defraying  all  the  Charges  proper  to  be 
born  by  the  Proprietors  hitherto;  and  also  for  building  a  Meeting  House, 
Settling  a  Minister,  Making  Bridges  Causeways  &  Roads  and  for  defraying 
any  Unforeseen  Charges  that  may  arise  in  perfecting  and  Compleating  the 
Settlement  of  the  Place. 

IV  To  Agree  how  Meetings  shall  be  called  for  the  future,  and  to  Pass 
orders  for  the  Managing,  Improving,  Dividing  or  Disposing  of  said  Lands, 
and  finally  to  do  any  other  thing  Condusive  to  the  good  of  the  Community. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  this  second  Day  of  February  Anno  Dom  173S-9 

P.ATKICK    PeIBI-ES. 
Entered  from  the  ()riginal 

Pr  John  Chandi.kk  Jin  Proprietors  Clerk 


the  first  settlers.  2  1 

First  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors,  Feb.  26,   1738-9. 

Att  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Northerly  half  of  that  Tract 
of    Equivalent   Land   (excepting   Eight  hundred    Acres)   Lying  and 
being   in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  bounded  westerly  on    Hadley, 
Southerly  on  another  tract  of  Equivalent  Land  commonly  called  Cold 
Spring  Township,  Easterly  on  land  called   Quabbin,  North  on  land 
now  called  Wells  Town,  Regularly  assembled  and  Mett  Together  at 
the  Dwelling  House  of  Capt  Daniel  Heywood  in  Worcester  on  Mon- 
day the  twenty  sixth  day  of  February  at   10  a  clock  in  ye  forenoon, 
At  which  meeting  the  following  Votes  Passed  Vizt 
John  Chandler  Jun  Esq  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Unanimous  Vote. 
John  Chandler  Jun  Esq  was  chosen   Clerk  by  a  unanimous  vote  and 
sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  office  by  William  Jenison 
Esq  in  the  meeting  before  ye  proprietors. 
Voted     That  the  Clerk  be  desired  to  purchase  a  book  at  the  charge 
of  the  proprietors  and  that  he  first  enter  in  the  Same  the  Grand 
Agreement  made  and  Executed  Between  James  Thornton  &  Robert 
Peibles  Oct  20th  1738  which  is  now  voted  as  the  foundation  of  the 
Settlement  and  Direction  in  future  proceedings  they  having  just 
purchased  the  premises  of  the  Honorable  John  Stoddard  Esq  and 
Took  the  Rest  of  the  Proprietors  in  as  partners  on  the  thirty  first 
day  of  January  last  and  many  of  them  in   Consequence  of  obliga- 
tions or  Agreements  made  in  writing  on  aforesaid  thirty  first  day 
of  January,  and  that  the  Grand  Deed  or  Instrument  be  so  Recorded 
and  then  the  Application  to  said  Stoddard  for  this  present  Proprie- 
tors Meeting  &ct  with  the  warrant  &  Warning  and  then  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  and  all  other  future  meetings.     Said  Records  to 
be   done  at  the   charge  of  the   Propriety, — Ordered  that   Messrs. 
Andrew  McFarland  Robert  Lotheridge  &  Samuel  Gray  be  a  Com- 
mittee with  the  Assistance  of  a  Surveyer  all  on  oath  to  take  an 
exact  Survey  of  the  whole  Tract  of  land  and  bound  the  same  out 
well,  and  then  to  lay  the  same  out  into  six  Equal  Ranges,  The 
Range  lines  to  Run  East  and  West  and  between  Each  Range  to 
leave  two  perch  wide  for  a  highway  except  between  the   Center 
Range  where  they  are  to  leave   four   perch  wide   for  a  highway 
That  then  they   do  in  the  Center  of  the  whole  Tract  or  as  near  as 
they  in  their  Judgments  Shall  think  proper  lay  out  Ten  Acres  for  a 
Meeting  House  Place  burying  place  and  Training  field  from  which. 


22  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

a  highway  four  perch  wide  shall  be  left  North  and  South  from  the 
North  and  South  of  the  whole  Tract,  and  that  then  the  Committee 
proceed  to  lay  out  Sixty  one  Home  Lots,  the  Standard  to  be  One 
Hundred  acres  and  that  they  proportion  the  lotts  for  Quality  so  as 
to  make  them  as  Equal  as  may  be.  That  they  Lay  out  one  of  said 
Lotts  for  the  first  Minister  as  nigh  the  Meeting  House  as  ye  land 
will  Admit  off. — And  that  then  they  proceed  to  lay  out  ye  Sixty 
Lotts,  in  ye  doing  of  which  they  are  to  lay  out  the  best  of  ye  lands, 
and  that  such  land  as  is  not  suitable  for  the  Homelotts  as  afore- 
said to  Lye  for  after  Divisions.  And  in  Case  a  number  of  lotts 
Exceeding  three  are  laid  out  adjoining  in  one  Range  that  they 
leave  land  for  a  highway  between  so  that  between  every  three  lotts 
at  least  There  be  a  highway  of  two  perch  wide. 

Voted  that  the  Committee  take  Such  Pilotts  with  them  as  they  Shall 
Judge  Necessary  at  the  Charge  of  the  Proprietors. 

Voted  that  there  be  an  exact  Plan  of  the  whole  Tract  Made  and  the 
Sundry  Range  lines  laid  down  thereon  to  be  Numbered  as  follows. 
The  Range  on  the  South  Side  to  be  called  the  First  Range,  and 
so  to  proceed  Northward  to  the  sixth  Range  on  the  North  side, 
And  that  the  land  laid  out  for  ye  Meeting  House  &ct  be  Duly  laid 
down  on  the  Plan  as  also  Each  &  every  of  ye  Sixty  one  Lotts. 
That  the  Range  lines  &  lotts  be  very  well  bounded  and  Marks 
therein  made  so  thick  as  to  be  at  anytime  Easily  found. 

Voted  that  the  Comette  have  nine  Shillings  per  Diem  Allowed  them 
for  their  Service  and  Subsistance.  And  they  were  sworn  in  the 
Meeting  to  the  faithful  Discharge  of  their  Trust  by  John  Chand- 
ler Jun  Esq. 

Voted  that  William  Young  be  the  Surveyor,  who  was  Sworn  in  the 
Meeting  to  the  faithful  Discharge  of  his  office  and  that  he  have 
fourteen  Shillings  pr  Diem  for  his  service  and  Subsistance,  and  he 
is  hereby  Directed  to  keep  an  exact  Journal  of  the  whole  affair  and 
to  return  a  fair  Plott  of  his  whole  proceedings  in  all  regards  as 
Aforesaid,  And  in  case  of  his  being  Indisposed  or  otherwise  not 
attending  the  Service  that  then  the  Comittee  and  Clerk  choose 
some  other  suitable  person  to  perform  the  same. 

Voted,  that  James  Allexander  be  an  assistant  to  said  Comittee  and 
have  the  same  wages  (vizt)  Nine  Shillings  Pr  Diem  he  finding 
himself. 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS. 


23 


Voted,  that  before  the  lotts  are  drawn  Vizt,  the  fifty  six  Lotts,  (after 
Robert  Peibles  and  James  Thornton  have  chosen  their  two  lotts 
Each  which  they  may  do  at  anytime  when  laid  out  and  ye  Min- 
isters Lott)  be  all  of  them  numbered  on  the  Plott,  Vizt,  from  six 
to  Sixty  one  and  the  Ministers  Lott  to  be  number  One,  And  their 
four  Lotts  Number  Two,  Three,  four,  five, — And  that  after  they 
are  drawn  a  Return  be  wrote  of  every  mans  Lott  with  ye  Point  of 
Compass  and  length  of  line  and  the  Corner  bounds  to  be  entered 
at  large  in  ye  Proprietors  Book  And  the  Original  to  be  delivered 
to  the  owner  of  the  Lott,  Said  ye  Return  to  be  signed  by  ye 
Coniittee  &   Surveyor  or  Otherwise  as  the  Proprietors  shall  order. 

Voted  that  the  fifth  sixth  &  seventh  particulars  under  the  third  Gen- 
eral head  or  Article  be  Referred  to  the  adjournment  of  this 
Meeting — then  to  further  Consider  on. 

And  then  the  Meeting  was  by  a  vote  of  the  Proprietors  adjourned  to 
this  place  on  the  first  day  of  May  next  at  Ten  of  the  Clock  in  the 
forenoon. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Jun  Moderator 
The  Aforesaid  Votes  were  passed 

Attest         John  Chandler  Jun  Proprietors  Clerk 

Second  Meeting  of  the   Proprietors,  May  i,   1739. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  aforesaid  held  by  Adjournment 
from  February  26,  1738-9  to  May  i  1739  at  Ten  a  Clock  in  the  fore- 
noon and  then  met  at  the  Dwelling  House  of  Capt  Daniel  Heywood 
in  Worcester.  The  Comittee  appointed  for  Surveying  the  lands 
belonging  to  the  Proprietors  and  for  laying  out  Sixty  one  homelotts 
made  Report,  and  by  the  Surveyor  William  Young  laid  before  the 
proprietors  a  Plan  of  the  whole  Tract  and  Also  of  said  home  lotts — • 
Said  Lotts  being  numbered  from  one  to  Sixty  one,  which  was 
approved  off  &  ordered  to  be  recorded,  and  whereas  they  are  but 
twenty  five  of  said  lotts  fully  compleated  it  was  Voted  that  the 
Remainder  be  done  at  the  charge  of  the  Society.  It  was  also  Voted 
that  whoever  draws  the  Thirty  Second,  fifty  fourth,  &  Sixty  first  Lott 
or  any  of  them,  may  have  Liberty  to  Drop  fifty  acres  oft"  either  lott  at 
one  end  or  side  in  a  regular  figure  &  have  the  same  laid  out  in  any 
of  ye  Undivided  lands  at  the  charge  of  the  Society.  And  it  was  also 
Voted  that  Said  lands  be  for  ye  future  called  ye  Lisburn   Propriety. 


24 


HISTORY    OF     PELHAM,    MASS. 


Voted  the  Lotts  No  7  &  No  S  which  now  contain  One  Hundred 
and  Eleven  acres  have  added  to  each  of  them  at  the  West  end  of 
said  lotts  Ten  Acres,  ye  whole  width  of  Said  Lotts.  Voted  that  Lot 
No  I  with  the  After  Divisions  befor  the  first  Settled  Minister,  That 
No  2  &  No  3  be  two  of  Robert  Peibles  Lotts  and  No  4  and  No  5  be 
two  of  James  Thorntons  Lotts,  And  then  the  Proprietors  proceeded 
to  draw  their  Lotts  and  Here  follows  a  List  of  the  names  of  the 
Proprietors  and  the  lotts  they  drew  &ct. 

NAMES  OF  THE  PRESENT  PROPRIETORS  AND  THE  LOTTS  THEY  DREW. 


Names  of 
Proprietors 
Ministers  Lett 
Robert  Peibols 
Robert  Peibols 
James  Thornton 
James  Thornton 


No.  of 
Lotts 


No.  of] 
Lotts 

21 
22 


Names  of 
Proprietors 
James  Thornton 
Adam  Patterson 
3lJames  Gilmore  23 

4|Adani  Clark  24 

5  John  Chandler  Jr  Esq  25 
(The  foregoing  Lotts    [John  Alexander  26 

were  without  Draft)     'John  Johnson  27 


John  Uick 
Patrick  Peibols 
John  Gray 
John  Gray 
John  McConkey 
William  Gray  Jr 
James  Thornton 
James  Thornton 
James  Thornton 
Thomas  Dick 
Robert  Peibols 
James  Gilmore 
Mathew  Gray 
James  Thornton 
George  Cowen 


6|James  McAUah  28, 

7  Robert  Lotheridge  29 
SJJohn  Chandler  Jn  Esq  30 
9J James  McConkey  31 

101  William  Johnson  32 

II I  James  Taylor 

i2iAdam  Johnson 

13  James  Hood 

14  William  Thornton 

15  Samuel  Thomas 

16  James  Thornton 

17  Andrew  McF^arland 

18  James  Breakenridge 

19  Mathew  Thornton 
20,Ephraim  Cowen 


Names  of 
Proprietors 

Samuel  Gray 
Robert  Barber 
Robert  Barber  &  { 
William  Jonhson  ( 
Alexander  Turner 
John  Gray 
John  Stinson 
James  Alexander 
John  Fergerson 
James  Thornton 
Adam  Johnson 
James  Thornton 
James  Thornton 


No.  of 
Lotts 

43 
44 

45 

46 

47 
48 

49 
50 
51 
52 
53 
54 


33;. 

34  Alexander  McConkey  55 

35  '  ~  ■ 
36 
37 
3S 
39 
40, 
41 
42 


James  Taylor 
Robert  Lotheridge 
Thomas  Lowden 
Samuel  Gray 
Andrew  McFarland  } 
&  Mathew  Gray        i 
Robert  Peibols 


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26  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM    MASS. 

The  Comittee  laid  before  ye  proprietors  an  Account  of  the  charge 
of  Surveying  the  whole  Tract  and  of  Sixty  one  Home  Lotts,  and  is 
as  follows  Vizt 

£      s      p 
Andrew  McFarland  22   Days     a     9s         8 — 18 — o 

Robert  Lotheridge  22   Days     a     9s         9 — 18 — o 

Samuel  Gray  22   Days     a     9s         9 — 18 — o 

William  Young  22   Days     a   14s        15 —  8 — o 

James  Allexander  23   Days     a     9s       10 —  7 — o 

To  Andrew  McFarland  for  Pilotts  &ct  2 — 11 — 6 


58—  0—6 

Voted  that  the  above  sums  as  in  enntry — Unto  the  sum  of  Fifty 
Eight  Pound  &  six  pence  be  allowed  and  paid  to  the  above  persons 
by  the  Treasurer. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  three  pound  be  paid  Patrick  Peibles  for  a 
Journey  to  North  Hampton  &c  by  the  Treasurer. 

Voted  that  thirty  Shillings  be  allowed  &  paid  to  Captain  Daniel 
Heywood  for  the  expenses  at  his  house  this  meeting  by  the  Treasurer. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  fifteen  pound  be  allowed  and  paid  towards 
the  Making  a  Road  to  the  Meeting  House  and  from  thence  into 
East  Hadley  so  called  Vizt  a  Bridle  Road,  and  John  Gray  and 
James  Allexander  are  appointed  a  Comittee  To  see  ye  same  located 
in  the  most  Suitable  place  for  Publick  Advantage  and  According  to 
their  best  Discretion. 

Voted  that  the  Remainder  of  the  Lands  be  all  Laid  out  in  two 
Divisions,  one  to  be  called  a  Second  Division  and  ye  other  the  Final 
Division,  and  that  the  Standard  for  the  Second  Division  be  Fourty 
Acres,  and  that  the  Lotts  be  laid  out  Quantity  for  Quality,  taking 
the  best  of  the  land,  and  that  the  lotts  be  numbered  from  one  to 
Sixty  one  and  drawn  for  as  the  home  lotts  were.  And  that  the 
Remainder  be  laid  out  into  Sixty  one  Equal  parts  and  numbered  and 
drawn  as  the  Second  Division,  and  that  the  lotts  in  both  Divisions 
be  well  bounded  out  and  a  fair  plan  returned  both  of  the  home  lotts 
Second  Division  &  Final  Division,  and  a  Return  Made  and  Signed 
by  ye  Comittee  &  Surveyor  of  both  Divisions  in  one  Return  to  be 
Recorded  in  the  Proprietors  Book  &  the  Original  Delivered  to  the 
Respective  owners  of  Said  Lotts, — 

Voted  that  Robert  Peibles  Ephraim  Cowan  and  John  Stinson  be 


THE    FIRST   SETTLERS. 


27 


the  Comittee  with  ye  Assistance  of  William  Young  the  Surveyor  to 
Accomplish  said  work  by  ye  Last  day  of  October  next,  and  that  the 
Comittee  have  nine  Shillings  each  pr  Day  &  the  Surveyor  fifteen 
Shillings  pr  day  they  finding  themselves  and  to  be  on  oath, — and 
they  were  all  sworn  to  the  faithful  Discharge  of  their  Trust  in  the 
Meeting  by  John  Chandler  Jun  Esq. 

Voted  That  William  Thornton  be  an  Assistant  to  said  Committee, 
and  he  have  nine  shillings  pr  Day  he  finding  himself. 

Voted,  That  William  Young  ye  Surveyor  doe  with  ye  Assistance 
of  William  Thornton  and  John  Dick  perfect  ye  Surveying  of  the 
Home  Lotts  and  that  it  be  done  as  soon  as  May  be,  that  said  Young 
have  fourteen  shillings  pr  day  and  said  Thornton  &  Dick  each  nine 
shillings  pr  Day  for  said  Service,  finding  themselves,  and  they  were 
sworn  by  John  Chandler  Jun  Esq 

Voted  that  the  Clerk  Draw  all  needful  Copys  for  the  Comittees  and 
Surveyors  Instruction. 

■  Voted,  That  a  Tax  Assessment  of  Three  Pounds  a  Right,  amounting 
to  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  and  Eighty  pounds  be  assessed  For 
Defraying  the  charge  that  have  and  may  arise  in  performing  the  said 
service  and  for  such  other  things  as  the  Society  shall  order  &  appoint 
&  that  the  money  may  be  collected  by  the  first  day  of  November 
next  and  paid  into  ye  hands  of  the  Treasurer. 

Voted  That  William  Gray  Jun  Andrew  McFarland  and  John 
Chandler  Jun  Esq  be  a  Comittee  «&  Assessors  for  ye  Propriety — The 
said  William  Gray  Jun  &  Andrew  McFarland  were  sworn  to  the 
faithful  Discharge  of  their  Trust  in  ye  meeting  by  John  Chandler 
Jun  Esq. 

Voted  that  Robert  Barber  be  the  Collector  of  the  Propriet}^ — and 
he  was  sworn  to  5^e  faithful  discharge  of  his  Trust  in  ye  Meeting  by 
John  Chandler  Jun  Esq. 

Voted  that  John  Chandler  Jun  Esq  be  Treasurer  to  the  Propriety, 
— and  he  was  sworn  faithfully  to  Discharge  the  Respective  Dutys  of 
an  Assessor  and  Treasurer  by  William  Jenison   Esq. 

Voted  That  the  Assessors  do  forthwith  make  said  Assessment  of 
three  pounds  on  each  Right  and  that  the  same  be  collected  by  ye 
time  Aforementioned. 

And  then  the  Meeting  was  by  vote  of  the  Proprietors  adjourned  as 
also  ye  Affairs  in  ye   Warrant  not  yet  acted  on  To  this  place  on  the 


28  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

First  Day  of  November  next  at  Ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon. 
Attest         John  Chandler  Jun  Moderator. 

All  the  foregoing  votes  were  passed. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Jun   Proprietors  Clerk. 

Third  Meeting  of   Proprietors,   November   i,    1739. 

Att  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  Held  by  Adjournment  from  May 
I,  1739  to  November  i,  1739  At  Ten  of  the  Clock  in  ye  forenoon 
and  then  Mett  at  the  House  of  Capt  Daniel  Heywood  in  Worcester. 

The  meeting  not  being  full  the  Matters  to  be  Transacted  not  being 
fully  prepared,  It  was  Voted  that  the  Expenses  being  fourty  Shillings 
be  paid  by  the  Treasurer,  and  then  The  Meeting  was  by  a  vote  of 
the  Proprietors  adjourned  as  also  the  Affairs  in  ye  Warrant  not  yet 
acted  on  To  this  place  on  Monday  the  fifth  Instant  at  Ten  a  Clock 
in  the  forenoon. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Jun  Clerk  Proprietors. 

Fourth  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors,  November  5,   1739. 

Att  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  Aforesaid  Held  by  adjournment 
from  the  First  Instant  to  this  5th  day  of  November  1739  at  Ten  a 
Clock  in  ye  forenoon  and  then  Mett  at  the  House  of  Capt  Daniel 
Heywood  in  Worcester. 

An  account  of  the  Charge  for  Completing  the  Division  being  laid 
before  ye  proprietors  for  allowance  and  approving  the  following  sums 
due  to  the  following  Persons  Vizt 

To  William  Young  Surveyor   13   Days  at  14s     £()       2  s     5d 
To  William  Thornton  13  days  at  9s  5      ^7        o 

To  John  Dick  13  days  at  9s  5      17        o 

^20     16       o 

Voted  that  the  above  sums  amounting  Unto  the  Sum  of  Twenty 
pounds  sixteen  shillings  be  Allowed  and  paid  to  the  above  persons 
by  the  Treasurer.  Pursuant  to  a  vote  of  the  Proprietors  of  ye  first  of 
May  last  William  Johnson  who  drew  the  Thirty  Second  Home  lot  on 
first  Division  Dropt  fifty  acres  thereof  at  ye  Southeasterly  corner  and 
to  take  the  same  at  the  Northwesterly  corner  of  the  Home  lott 
Number  Twenty  in  the  Forth  Range  &  is  called  No  32. 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  29 

James  Thornton  by  his  assignee,  Hugh  Gray  Dropt  fifty  Acres  on 
the  Easterly  end  of  the  Home  Lott  Number  fifty  four  and  Took  it  in 
the  fifth  Range  between  No  53  &  46  &  47  and  is  called  No  54. 

Also  Robert  Peibles  Dropt  fifty  Acres  on  the  southerly  side  of  the 
Home  lott  num  sixty  one  and  took  it  in  the  fourth  Range  between 
No  15  &  58  &  is  Called  No  61. 

A  Plan  of  the  Second  and  Third  Divisions  including  the  first 
Division  was  presented  and  allowed  by  the  Proprietors  and  ordered 
to  be  Recorded  or  added  to  the  Book  of  Records. 


Rahqe      6 


/     /?A/t 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS. 


31 


Voted  that  the  Surveyor  with  ye  late  Comittee  Vizt  Ephraim 
Cowan  forthwith  or  as  soon  as  may  be  Compleat  the  Third  Division 
at  ye  charge  of  ye  Proprietors. 

Voted  that  whoever  Draws  the  Second  Division  No  40  May  have 
Third  Division  No  4,  second  Division  No  41  3d  Division  56,  2d  Divi- 
sion No  56,  3d  Division  6, — 2d  Division  17, — 30!  Division  44. 

Here  follows  the  List  of  the  tirst  Division  as  formerly  Drawed  with 
the  numbers  of  the  Second  and  Third  Division  as  drawn  by  the 
proprietors. 


I  St 

2d 

3d 

Persons  names. 

Div 

Div 

Div 

Ministers  Lott 

I 

56 

6 

Robert  Peibles 

2 

52 

13 

Robert  Peibles 

3 

II 

28 

James  Thornton 

4 

16 

I 

James  Thornton 

5 

40 

4 

John  Dick 

6 

17 

44 

Patrick  Peibles 

7 

45 

7 

Johii  Gray 

S 

"7 

34 

John  Gray 

9 

8 

50 

John  McConkey 

10 

61 

35 

William  Gray 

II 

60 

48 

James  Thornton 

12 

42 

38 

James  Thornton 

13 

22 

55 

James  Thojnton 

14 

12 

5S 

Thomas  Dick 

15 

iS 

8 

Robert  Peibles 

16 

6 

43 

James  Gilmore 

17 

41 

56 

Mathew  Gray 

18 

26 

-5 

James  Thornton 

19 

14 

9 

George  Cowan 

20 

ID 

41 

James  Thornton 

21 

34 

57 

Adam  Patterson 

22 

23 

51 

James  Gilmore 

-3 

33 

36 

Adam  Clark 

24 

30 

53 

John  Chandler 

25 

59 

39 

John  Alexander 

26 

49 

17 

John  Johnson 

27 

43 

54 

James  McAllah 

28 

32 

15 

Robert  Lotheridge 

29 

40 

.ohn  Chandler 

30 

4 

31 

.  ames  McConkey 

31 

35 

37 

Persons  named.  Di\ 

William  Johnson  32 

James  Taylor  33 

Adam  Johnson  34 

James  Hood  35 

William  Thornton  36 

Samuel  Thomas  37 

James  Thornton  ;^S 
Andrew  McFarland  39 

James  Brakenridge  40 

Mathew  Thornton  41 

Ephraim  Cowan  42 

Samuel  Gray  43 

Robert  Barber  44 
Robert  Barber        } 

and  Wm  Johnson  j  ^5 

Alexander  Turner  46 

John  Gray  47 

John  Stinson  48 

James  Alexander  49 

John  Fergerson  50 

James  Thornton  51 

Adam  Johnson  52 

James  Thornton  53 

James  Thornton  54 

AUex  McConkey  55 

James  Taylor  56 

Robert  Lotheridge  57 

Thomas  Lowden  58 

Samuel  Gray  59 

Allex'r  McFarland  |  g 
and  Mathew  Gray   i 

Robert  Peibles  61 


Div 

50 
51 
31 
13 
55 
25 

3 
39 
54 
58 
24 

9 
19 

29 

36 

37 

46 
47 

I 
15 

5 
57 
53 
20 
38 

28 
44 

48 


Memorandum — here  follows  an 
Above  Lotts  Vizt,   Such  as  have 


Acct  of  ye    Owners  of  some  of 
purchased  since  ye  Home  lotts 


3d 
Div 


18 
61 
21 
30 
32 
43 

3 

46 
46 
59 
23 

47 

60 

the 

or 


32  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

first  Division  was  Drawn,  And  the  Second  &  third  Divisions  Are  laid 
out  to  said  persons  and  the  Return  so  made  Vizt 


I  St 

2d 

^t 

Div 

Div 

William  Crossett 

Home  Lott 

57 

38 

46 

Andrew  Mclain 

do       - 

14 

12 

58 

James  Gilmore 

do       " 

38 

3 

14 

John  Peibles 

do       " 

16 

6 

42 

John  Clark 

do       " 

19 

^4 

9 

William  Gray  Jun 

do       " 

53 

5 

43 

Mathew  Gray 

do       " 

45 

29 

22 

Robert  McClain 

do       " 

41 

58 

45 

Hugh  Gray 

do       " 

54 

57 

2 

a 

15s  is  , 

^28—10—0 

a 

9s  is 

15  — 15— 0 

a 

9s  is 

II —  5 — 0 

a 

9    is 

17 —   2 — 0 

a 
Re 

9    is 
:turns 

17 —   2 — 0 

a 

9s  is 

2—  5—0 

The  Second  &  Third  Divisions  to  said  Persons  Accordingly.— 
The  Committee  for  surveying  the  Second  and  Third  Divisions  laid 

before  the  Proprietors   An  Acct  of  ye   Charges  Thereof  and  it  is  as 

follows  Vizt 

To  William  Young  for  Thirty  eight 
To  Robert  Peibles  35  days 

To  Ephriam  Cowan  25  days 

To  John  Stinson  38  days 

To  William  Thornton  38  days 

To  William  Young  for  Drawing  the  Returns 
3  days 

^91.10.-0 

Voted  that  the  above  sums  amounting  unto  the  sum  of  Ninety  one 
Pound  Nineteen  shillings  be  allowed  and  paid  to  the  Above  persons 
by  the  Treasurer. 

Whereas  at  the  Meeting  held  on  the  first  day  of  May  Last  (1739) 
there  was  a  sum  of  fifteen  pounds  allowed  for  and  towards  making 
a  Road  in  Said  property  as  pr  ye  votes  appear  and  it  now  appearing 
that  instead  of  said  sum  there  has  been  expended  on  said  affair  More 
Labour  than  was  at  first  Judged  Needful.  Wherefore  Voted  that  the 
following  Sums  be  granted  to  the  following  persons  for  said  work  and 
what  the  same  shall  Amount  to  more  than  said  sum  of  fifteen  pounds 
shall  be  paid  out  of  ye  Taxes  Assessed  or  that  may  be  hereafter 
assessed  on  the  Propriety  Vizt 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  33 


To  James  Allexander 

7  Days 

£3-3- 

-0 

To  John  Johnson 

6  Days 

2—14- 

-0 

To  William  Thornton 

6  Days 

2—14- 

-0 

To  James  Gilmore 

6  Days 

2—14- 

-0 

To  Allexander  McAllah 

6  Days 

2  —  14- 

-0 

To  William  McConkey 

6  Days 

2—14- 

-0 

To  Robert  McKee 

3  Days 

I—   7- 

-0 

To  John  Gray 

3  1-2  Days 

I  — II- 

-0 

To  Ephraim  Cowan 

1  Day 

9- 

— 0 

To  James  Brakenridge 

2  Days 

iS- 

— 0 

To  Robert  Peibles 

I  Day 

9- 

-0 

To  James  Hood 

I   1-2  Days 

^3~ 

-6 

To  James  McConkey 

4  1-2  Days 

2 —  0- 

-6 

^34—1-6 

The  further  sum  now  granted  being  Nine  Pounds  one  shilling  & 
six  pence     Ordered  the  whole  to  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer. 

(The  above  sum  of  ^24  —  i — 6  was  for  building  the  bridle  path  to 
the  Meeting  house  and  into  East  Hadley,  or  Amherst  which  they 
voted  to  do  May  i,  1739.) 

Voted  that  a  tax  or  assessment  of  twenty-five  Shillings  A  Right, 
Amounting  unto  the  sum  of  Seventy  pounds  be  granted  for  further 
defraying  ye  charges  that  have  or  may  arise  on  ye  proprietors  to  be 
Surveyed  by  ye  comittee  or  assessors  already  chosen,  or  they  or  part 
of  them  and  to  be  collected  and  paid  unto  ye  proprietors  Treasurer 
at  before  ye  fifteenth  day  of  April  next,  To  be  by  him  paid  to  defray 
ye  Charges  already  (or  which  may  hereafter  be)  Allowed  of  by  the 
Proprietie,  And  the  Meeting  with  the  Articles  not  acted  upon  was 
adjourned  by  a  vote  of  the  propriety  to  meet  at  this  place  on  Tuesday 
the  fifteenth  day  of   April  next  at  Ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Clerk  Proprietors 
The  aforesaid  votes  passed. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Clerk  Proprietors 

Fifth  Meeting    of  the    Proprietors,    Held    by    Adjournment 
FROM  November  5    1739   to    April  15   1740. 

Att  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  aforesaid,  held  by  Adjournment 
from  November  5th  1739    To  April  15  1740    at  Ten  a   Clock  in  the 


34 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


forenoon  and  then  Mett  at  the  House  of   Capt  Daniel  Heywood  in 
Worcester. 

An  Acc't  of  the  Charges  for  compleating  ye  Second  and  Third 
Divisions  yet  being  laid  before  the  Proprietors  for  Allowance. 

Voted — That  the  sum  of  Eighteen  pounds  be  allowed  to  William 
Young  Surveyor,  for  24  days  service  as  aforesaid  and  drawing  the 
Return  &  Seven  shillings  for  paper  ye  whole  being  Eighteen  pounds 
7  shillings,  And  Also  ye  sum  of  five  pound  Seventeen  Shillings  to 
Ephraini  Cowen  assisting  therein  &ct  being  13  days. 

18—  7—0 
5  —  17—0 

£^z—  4—0 

The  above  sums  amounting  to  twenty  three  Pounds  four  Shillings, 
Allowed  and  Ordered  to  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer. 

Voted,  that  James  Thornton  Robert  Peibles  James  McAllah — 
Mathew  Gray  &  John  Gray  a  Comittee  Impowered  by  the  Proprietors 
to  Request  of  the  Clerk  of  said  Proprietie  a  Warrant  for  Calling  of  a 
new  Meeting  as  they  shall  see  cause. — The  Meeting  to  be  held  in 
the  Lisborne  propriety.  The  warrant  to  Express  time  and  place  of 
Meeting  and  what  is  to  be  Transacted  therein — Notifications  to  be 
put  up  in  some  Publick  place  in  said  Proprietie  &  also  in  ye  Town  of 
Worcester  the  time  by  law  Required  before  said  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  as  often  as  five  or  more  of  ye  proprietors  shall  Judge 
there  is  a  newsesity  from  time  to  time  of  said  Proprietors.  The 
Clerk  for  the  time  being  upon  Application  to  him  Made  by  said 
persons  in  writing  under  their  hands  settmg  forth  what  they  Appre- 
hend newssary  to  be  Transacted  shall  give  a  warrent  for  the  same, 
which  warrant  shall  (till  ye  proprietors  Otherwise  Order)  be  Posted 
up  in  some  Publick  place  in  said  Proprietie  and  also  in  the  Town  of 
Worcester  at  Least  fourteen  days  before  the  time  of  the  Meeting. 

Voted  That  James  Thornton  and  William  Gray  and  Andrew  Mc- 
Farland  be  a  Comittee  fully  Impowered  To  Settle  Accounts  with  the 
present  Treasurer  John  Chandler  Esq  for  ye  Taxes  already  Granted, 
allowing  his  own  acct  out  of  the  same  which  amounts  To  the  sum 
of  Twenty  Eight  Pounds  Eighteen  shillings  with  a  Reasonable  allow- 
ance for  his  service  as  Treasurer,  and  that  they  give  him  proper 
discharge  and  Report  as  soon  as  may  be  to  the  proprietors  &  what 
they  do  to  be  obligatory  on  ye  Proprietors. 


THE    FIRST     SETTLERS.  35 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Disolved  And  it  was  accordingly  so 
declared  by  ye  Moderator. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Proprietors  Clerk. 
The  Aforegoing  Votes  were  passed  by  the  Proprietors  &  Entered 
by  my  own  hand. 

Attest         John  Chandler  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Here  follows  the  Returns  of  ye  Home  lotts  &:  Second  &  final  or 
Third  Division.  These  consist  of  a  description  and  bounds  of  each 
of  the  sixty-one  home  lotts  and  also  of  the  sixty-one  lots  in  the 
Second  Division  and  the  sixty-one  in  the  third  division.  The  full 
description  of  all  these  lots  would  be  monotonous  reading,  that  few 
would  care  to  wade  through,  and  so  we  give  only  a  few  full  copies  of 
these  descriptions,  but  enough  to  show  how  the  record  was  made. 
With  three  divisions  of  land,  each  drawn  by  lot  and  each  series 
numbered  from  one  to  sixty-one  must  have  led  to  much  confusion. 
It  was  only  by  the  sheerest  luck  that  a  man  drew  his  three  parcels 
of  land  and  had  them  adjoining  each  other.  Oftener  the  three 
parcels  were  several  miles  apart,  and  consequently  comparatively 
valueless  for  cultivation  for  the  party  who  drew  them.  Doubtless 
there  were  exchanges  made,  whereby  a  parcel  drawn  by  one  farmer, 
but  far  from  his  home  lot  on  which  he  lived,  could  exchange  for  a 
parcel  near  by,  but  drawn  by  a  farmer  several  miles  away,  to  their 
mutual  advantage. 

Home  Lot  No.  i,  or  the  lot  set  apart  for  the  first  settled  minister, 
and  the  one  that  Rev.  Robert  Acercrombie  had,  with  Second  Divi- 
sion No.  56  and  Third  Division  No.  6,  will  serve  to  illustrate  the 
inconvenience  of  getting  land  by  lot,  or  drawing  for  it  as  in  a  lottery. 

"No.  I — Ministers  Lott — Is  a  home  Lott  Laid  out  to  the  first 
Settled  Minister  in  the  Lisburn  Propriety,  Viz,  Lays  in  the  fourth 
Range  &  Lays  Quantity  for  Quality  Containing  one  Hundred  Acres, 
it  Lys  In  two  parts,  ye  first  Lays  adjoining  the  Meeting  House  Lott, 
it  Bounds  Northerly  &  Southerly  on  ye  Range  Lines.  Westerly  on 
home  Lott  No  50  partly  and  partly  on  the  Meeting  House  Lott  & 
Easterly  on  home  Lott  No  10  partly  and  partly  on  home  Lott  No  11. 
The  Southwest  Corner  is  a  stake  and  stones  hence  N  :  40  perch  to  a 
state  and  stones  thence  west  20  perch  to  a  stake  &  stones.  Runs 
from  thence  N.  143  perch  to  a  stake  and  from  thence  East  87  perch 


36  HISTORY    OF     PELHAM,    MASS. 

&  four  tenths  of  a  Perch  to  a  stake  and  stones,  thence  S.  183  perch  to 
a  stake  &  stones,  from  thence  to  ye  Corner  first  mentioned,  Contains 
Ninety  five  acres ;  ye  Second  is  bounded  Southerly  by  home  Lott  No 
56,  W.  by  home  Lott  No  55  N  &  E  by — third  Division  No  24  the 
Southwest  Corner  is  a  Stake  and  Stones  Runs  from  thence  E  five 
Degrees  South  40  Perch  to  An  Elm  tree  from  thence  N  20  Perch  to 
a  stake  and  stones  from  thence  W,  five  Degrees  S  :  40  perch  to  a 
heap  of  Stones,  thence  to  the  first  Corner  Containing  five  Acres,  out 
of  the  first  there  is  a  highway  of  four  Peach  Wide  to  be  allowed  out 
on  the  South  side. 

Surveyed  in  April  1739  Pr 

\^^iLLiA!\i  Young   Surveyor. 

Robert  Lotheridge    ^ 
Samuel  Gray  >-  Comittee 

Andrew  McFarland  ) 

Entered  by     John  Chandler  Proprietors  Clerk 

No  56  is  a  Second  Division  Laid  out  to  the  Minister  in  the  Lisburn 
propriety  &  it  Lays  in  the  first  Range  &  Lays  Quantity  for  Quality 
Containing  50  Acres  the  S.  W.  Corner  is  a  stake  &  stones  from 
thence  it  Runs  North  52  perch  &  three  quarters  to  a  Chisnut  tree 
from  thence  it  Runs  E.  152  Perch  to  a  pople  stadle  from  thence  it 
Runs  52  Perch  &  3  Quarters  to  a  stake  &:  stones  &  from  thence  to 
ye  Corner  first  mentioned  it  Bounds  South  on  the  South  line  of  the 
Town  N.  on  home  Lott  No  61  E.  on  ye  4  Perch  high  way  Running 
Cross  the  Town  &  W.  on  home  Lott  No  36. 

No  6  Is  a  Third  Division  Laid  out  to  ye  Minister  In  ye  Lisburn 
Propriety  &  it  Lays  in  ye  5th  Range  &  contains  107  acres  the  S.  W. 
Corner  is  a  chisnut  tree  &  from  thence  it  Runs  C  14  Perch  to  a  heap 
of  stones  North  from  thence  183  perch  to  a  heap  of  stones  from 
thence  183  perch  to  a  heap  of  stones  from  thence  E  45  perch  to  a 
heap  of  stones  from  thence  N  26  perch  to  a  heap  of  stones  thence  E 
10  3-4  perch  to  a  heap  of  stones  from  thence  N  39  1-4  perch  to  a 
stake  &  stones  thence  W  55  perch  to  a  heap  of  Stones  from  thence 
S  248  Perch  to  a  heap  of  stones  from  thence  W  4  Perch  to  a  white 
oak  tree  &  from  thence  it  Runs  to  the  Corner  first  mentioned  it 
Bounds  S.  on  ye  Range  Line  partly  &  partly  on  3d  Division  No  5  E 
on  2d  Division  No  29  partly  and  partly  on  3d  Division  No  7  N  on  3d 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS. 


37 


No  15   &  W.  on  home   Lott  No  60   partly  &  partly  on   2d   Division 
No  59.- — Surveyed  in  Oct  1739" 

Pr  Wm  Young  Surveyor. 
Entered  by     John  Chandler  Proprietors  Clerk. 

The  Ministers  Home  lot  was  at  the  center  of  the  town,  that  is 
ninety  five  acres  of  it,  and  five  acres  nearly  two  miles  east  in  the 
"Hollow." 

Second  Division  No  56,  50  acres,  was  on  the  south  line  of  the 
town  about  two  miles  from  lot  No  i. 

Third  Division  No  6,  107  acres,  was  in  the  5th  Range  and  nearly 
to  the  east  line  of  the  town,  five  miles  or  more  from  the  home  lot. 

Warrant  for  First  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  held  on  the 
Newly  Purchased   Tract  called  Lisborne  Propriety 
August  6,    1740. 
To  James  Thornton  one  of  the   Proprietors  of  the   Lisborne  propriety  so 
Called  in  the  County  of  Hampshire.     Greeting — 

•  Upon  application  made  to  Me  the  subscriber  Clerk  to  said  propriety  by 
the  said  James  Thornton  Robert  Peibles  James  McCallough  Mathew  Gray 
and  John  Gray  that  a  new  Meeting  of  Said  Proprietors  may  be  Called  and! 
to  be  held  at  Lisborne  you  are  ^therefor  hereby  Directed  agreeable  to  the 
votes  of  said  Proprietors  and  the  application  to  me  made  to  notifie  the  Pro- 
prietors of  the  Lisborne  propriety  aforesaid  that  they  assemble  and  meet  on 
Wednesday  the  Sixth  Day  of  August  nixt  at  Eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  fore- 
noon at  the  Dwelling  House  of  John  Fergerson  In  said  Lisborne  :  by  Posting 
up  a  Copy  of  this  warrant  there  and  also  in  the  town  of  Worcester  then  and 
there  to  Transact  on  the  following  articles:  first  to  Choose  a  Moderator  of 
said  Meeting. — Secondly  to  Choose  a  new  Clerk  to  impowr  him  to  Receive 
the  Book  and  Papers  of  the  present  Clerk  and  to  Give  his  Rec't  for  them. — 
Thirdly  to  Grant  what  money  may  be  nessary  for  building  and  finishing  a 
Meeting  House  or  part  thereof,  also  for  settling  a  minister,  or  having 
preaching  for  the  present  or  for  so  long  a  time  as  the  Proprietors  shall  think 
proper,  also  to  Grant  for  making  Bridges  Causeways  Highways  and  Roads, 
as  may  be  needful  and  agree  upon  proper  Methods  for  altring  those  that  are 
alredy  laid  out  or  sequestered  for  that  purpose  if  there  shall  be  occasion 
thereof  and  to  do  anything  needfull  and  necessary  for  the  bringing  forward 
the  setelment  of  the  place  and  also  to  Chouse  a  Treasurer  and  Colector  for 
Colecting  and  Receiving  future  Taxes— and  also  to  Grant  Money  for  such 
other  Services  as  have  been  already  done  or  ordered  to  be  done  or  that  may 
at  said  meeting  be  agreed  upon  or  for  any  other  unforeseen  Contingent 
Charges  and  Maik  Return  hereof  with  your  doings  herein  to  said  Proprietors 
at  the  time  and  place  of  Meeting. 
Dated  in  Worcester  this  22d  day  of  May  Anno  Dom  1740 

John  Chandler  Proprietors  Clerk.. 
4 


38  history  of  pelham,   mass. 

First  Meeting  of  Proprietors  at  Lisp.orne  Propriety 
August  6th   1740. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Lisborne  Propriety  so  ("ailed 
meet  and  Assembled  on  August  the  6th  1740  first  James  Thornton 
was  chosen  Moderator — Secondly  William  Gray  was  Chosen  Proprie- 
tors Clerk. ^ — Thirdly  Voted  that  the  Meeting  House  be  46  feet  in 
leanth  and  36  in  weadth. 

Forthly  Voted  that  there  be  one  hundred  and  twinty  Pounds  in 
Pairt  for  a  meeting  house  to  be  Colected  aginst  the  iirst  day  of  May 
nixt  ensuing. 

Fiftly  Voted  that  there  be  One  Hundred  and  twinty  pounds  in 
part  for  a  meeting  house  to  be  collected  against  the  first  day  of  May 
nixt  ensuing. 

Sixthly — Voted  that  James  McCoulough  James  Thornton  and 
Samuel  Gray  be  a  Comeety  to  agree  with  a  workman  to  rease  a 
Meeting  house  and  in  Close  it  and  lay  the  under  t^oor  and  hinge  the 
Doors  and  mack  the  windo  frames. 

Seventhly  Voted  that  the  settling  of  a  minister  be  a  jorned  for 
the  Present. 

Eighthly,  Voted  that  there  be  thirty  Pounds  Colected  for  Present 
Preaching  until  the  third  Tusday  of  May  nixt. 

Nintly,  Voted  that  there  be  a  cart  Pridge  Ericted  on  the  Revor 
Commonly  Called  the  West  Branch. 

Teenthly  Voted  that  Robert  Lotridge  Samuel  (Jray  and  James 
Gilmor  Jir  be  a  Comeety  to  regulat  and  repar  the  Roads  and  to  buld 
the  Bridge  menchond  on  the  ninth  vote. 

Eleventhly  Voted  that  there  be  three  days  work  Doan  for  each 
Lot  upon  the  highways  the  Bridge  Excepted. 

Twilthly  Voted  that  there  be  Eighty  days  w-orks  Doon  upon  the 
Middel  road  and  North  upon  the  Cros  Road  and  Eighty  Days  doon 
upon  the  Second  Road  and  the  Cross  road  South  and  twinty  days  on 
the  East  hill  from  the  Rever  where  it  is  most  needful. 

Thirteenthly  Voted  that  this  work  is  to  be  doon  and  perhcted 
betwixt  the  9th  and  20th  of  September  nixt. 

Forteenthly  Voted  that  there  be  alowed  for  Each  Man  six  shillings 
per  Day  and  three  shillings  for  one  yock  of  oxen  and  one  shilling  for 
.a  Cart  per  day. 

Fifteenthly  Voted  that  Each  lot  work  one  day  at  the  Bridge  and  a 


THK     EARLY    SETJLERS.  3g 

man  to    be  allowed    Eijjht  shillings   per   day    at   said   work   and  said 
work  is  to  be  perficted  on  the  27  th  and  2Sth  Days  of  August  nixt. 

Sixteenthly  Mathew  Gray  was  chosen  Proprietors  Treasurer. 

Seventeenthly,  John  Gray  was  chosen  Colector. 

Eighteenthly  Voted  that  William  Gray  James  Thornton  and  James 
McColouagh  be  assessors  for  the  Propriety. 

Nineteenthly  Voted  that  the  Meeting  is  ajorned  to  the  third 
Tusday  of  May  nixt  to  the  Dwelling  House  of  John  Fergerson  at  teen 
of  the  ("lock  in  the  forenoon. 

James  Thornton   Moderator. 
Recorded  l)y  William  Gray   Proprietors  ("lerk. 

Meeiing,   May    iqth,    1741. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Lisborne  so  Called  upon  ajourn- 
ment  from  August  the  6th  to  May  the  19th  1741  then  meet  and 
Assembled. 

First  Voted  that  there  be  one  hundred  and  twinty  pounds  Collected 
for  the  second  payment  of  the  meeting  house. 

Secondly  Voted  that  there  be  Colected  forty  Pounds  for  to  pay 
Debts  and  to  pay  for  Preaching  till  the  nixt  Meeting. 

Thirdly  Voted  that  Robert  Peibles  Mathew  Gray  James  Thornton 
James  McCoulough  and  John  Alexander  be  a  Comeety  to  proceed 
for  the  reasing  of  the  Meeting  house. 

Forthly  Voted  that  there  be  forty  days  work  doon  upon  the  midel 
Road  and  twinty  days  work  to  be  doon  upon  the  second  Road,  the 
work  is  to  be  doon  on  the  tuesday  and  wensday  of  June  nixt  and 
there  is  to  be  alowed  for  each  days  work  teen  shillings  and  for  one 
yock  of  oxen  five  shillings  per  day. 

Fifth"  Voted  that  Samuel  Gray  has  exchanged  the  four  Rod  Road 
in  his  Land  with  the  Propriety. 

Sixtly  That  John  Alexander  has  exchanged  with  the  Propriety  the 
two  Rod  Road  running  through  his  land. 

Seventhly  Voted  that  the  Moderator  Clerk  'Preasurer  and  Colector 
be  chosen  nixt  meeting. 

Fightly  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  ajorned  to  the  first  tusday  of 
September  nixt  at  Eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  fornocn  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  John  P^ergerson. 

James  Thorntcjn   Moderator. 
Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 


40  history  ok  pelham,  mass. 

Meeting  of  Proprietors  Lisborne  Propriety,  Sept.  i,  1741. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Lisborne  Propriety  so  Called  from  ajornment 
from  the  19th  of  May  to  the  first  of  September  1741  then  meet  and 
Assembled. 

And  First  was  chosen  James  Thornton  Moderatour. 

Secondly,   Was  chosen  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Thirdly  Voted  that  there  be  two  Colectors  Chosen. 

Forthly  Voted  that  there  be  one  humdred  Pounds  Assessed  for 
the  last  payment  of  the  Agreement  for  the  Meeting  house. 

Fiftly  Voted  that  Mathew  Gray  was  Chosen  Proprietors  Treasurer 

Sixtly  Voted  that  James  Alexander  was  Chosen  the  first  Colector. 

Seventhly,  Voted  that  James  Thornton  was  Chosen  the  second 
Colector. 

Eightly,  Voted  that  Mathew  Gray  go  to  Londonderry  to  the  Pres- 
beters  Comeety  with  a  Call  for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson. 

Nintly,  Voted  that  the  meeting  house  be  seet  upon  the  land  that  is 
Cleared  upon  the  west  sied  of  the  Cros  Road  where  it  may  be 
thought  properest  by  James  I'hornton  James  McCoulough  and 
Sanuicl  Gray. 

Teenthly,  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  ajorned  to  the  twinty  forth 
day  of  this  instant  September  to  the  house  of  John  Fergerson  at  nin 
of  the  clock  in  the  for  noon. 

James  1"hor.\  ton    Moderator. 
Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 


Meeting    of    Proprietors    Llsp.oknk    PRoi'RiErv,   Sept. 


14.  1741 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Lisborne  Propriety  so  Called 
upon  ajournment  from  Sept.  the  first  to  September  24th  1741  then 
meet  and   Assembled  & 

First  Voted  that  tiie  seventh  \ote  of  the  meeting  held  on  Septem- 
ber the  first  I  741  is  Reconsidered. — 

Secondly  Voted  that  ther  be  a  Fqualety  of  what  money  was  paid 
for  Preaching  in  our  first  begining. — 

Thirdly  Voted  that  George  Cowan  Andrew  Macllom  and  John 
Dick  be  a  Comeety  to  Reckon  with  Robert  Pebles  for  what  money 
has  been  paid  towards  Preaching. 

Forthly,   Voted  that  James  Taylor  is  Cho.scn  Colector. 

Fiftly    \'oted   that   the    meeting   is   a  icninud  to   ihc  first  tus(la\  (  f 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  4 1 

November  nixt  to  the   Dwelling   House  of  John  Fergerson  at  nin  of 
the  Clock  in  the  for  noon. 

Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

James  Thornton  Moderator. 

Meeting  of  Proprietors  Lisborne  Proprieiy  Nov.  3,  1741. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Lisborne  Propriety  so  Called 
upon  a  journment  from  September  the  twinty  fourth  1741  to  Novem- 
ber the  Third  then  meet  and  Assembled  and 

first  Voted  Robert  Pebles  Keep  a  minister  when  he  comes  to  be 
our  suplayer  at  twelve  shillings  per  week. 

Secondly,  Voted  that  the  peper  of  Charges  for  tranchant  Preaching 
of  twinty  one  Pounds  Eleven  shillings  and  six  pence  be  assessed 
upon  the  propriety. 

Thirdly,  Voted  that  Mathew  Gray  be  alowed  three  Pounds  for  his 
going  to  London  Derry. 

Forthly  Voted  that  the  Meeting  is  a  jorned  to  the  second  tusday 
of  May  nixt  at  nin  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  at  the  dwelling  house 
of  John  Fergerson. 

Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

James  Thornton  Moderator. 

Meeitng  of  Proprietors  Lisborne  Proprieiy  May  ii,  1742. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Lisborne  propriety  so  called 
upon  a  journment  from  November  the  third  1741  to  May  the  Eleventh 
1742  then  meet  and  Assembled  and 

First  Voted  that  the  meeting  be  a  jorned  for  half  an  hour  to  the 
house  of  John  Fergerson  for  to  Chous  a  Moderator  at  the  Meeting 
on  said  day  after  the  afor  said  a  jornment. 

First  Voted  and  was  chosen  Samuel  Gray  Moderator. 

Secondly  Voted  that  we  interceed  with  Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie 
to  be  our  Suplayer  as  far  as  he  can  for  this  Summer. 

Thirdly,  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  a  jorned  to  the  i8th  day  of  this 
instant  May  at  Eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  to  the  dwelling 
house  of  John  Fergerson. 

Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Samuel  Gray  Moderator. 


42  11  IS  TORY    OK     I'Kl.HA.M,     MASS. 

A  Warrant  for  the  first  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  held  in  the 
Meeting  House,  and  the  first  meeting  where  the  Propriety  is  desig- 
nated as  Pelhani,  May  i6,   1743. 

Hampshire  ss 
To  William  (Iray  of  I'eliiam  in  the  County  of  Hampshire.     Greeting. 

Whereas  nine  of  the  Proprietors  of  Pelham  formly  Lisborne  have  made 
application  to  me  the  subscriber  for  a  warent  for  Calling  a  Meeting  of  the 
Proprietors  of  said  Pelham  to  be  held  at  the  meeting  house  in  said  Pelham 
on  the  SixteentJi  day  of  may  nixt  at  teen  of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon  in 
order  to  Choose  assessors  to  assess  a  Tax  of  One  penny  per  acre  Granted  by 
tlie  (leneral  Court  on  the  Lands  in  said  Propriety  in  the  year  1742  and  also 
for  the  Proprietors  to  Consider  and  determine  whither  the  Proprietors  will 
raise  any  money  to  purchas  Elisha  Williams  Esqr  right  of  Land  in  said 
Townshipe  and  appoint  some  Person  to  Receive  a  deed  of  tlie  same  and 
order  if  so  the  Assessors  to  Assess  said  money. 

These  are  therefore  in  his  Majestys  name  to  require  a  meeting  of  the  said 
l^roprietors  at  said  time  and  place  for  the  ends  and  purposes  aforesaid  and 
you  are  hereby  recjuired  to  post  up  notification  in  som  Publict  Place  in  said 
I\'lham  fourteen  days  before  the  time  for  holding  said  meeting  setting  forth 
the  Time  place  and  occasion  there  of  unter  your  hand  Hereof  feal  not. 
Deated  at  Hatfield  this  29th  day  of  April  1743. 

IsKE-XL  Williams  Justes  Pace- 
Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

By  \'ertue  of  the  within  warent  I  have  notified  the  Proprietors  of  Pelham 
by  posting  up  a  notification  l)y  the  sied  of  the  meeting  house  door 
May  i6th  1743. 

By  William  (jRAY   Proprietors  Clerk. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Pelham  Lawfully  warned  to 
meet  at  the  meeting  house  May  the  iGth  1743  and  then  was  chosen 
John  Gray  Moderator. 

Secondly,  Voted  William  Gray  William  Croset  and  John  Hamilton 
was  chosen  assessors  to  assess  a  Tax  of  one  penny  per  acre  Granted 
by  the  General  Court  in  the  year  1742 — 

Thirdly  Voted  that  Robert  Lotridge  Ephraim  Cowan  and  James 
Thornton  be  a  Comeety  to  Receive  a  deed  and  gave  boand  for  the 
money  of  Klisha  Williams  Esq  land  lying  in  the  Townshipe  of  Pelham 

Forthly,  Voted  the  meeting  ajorned  to  tne  24th  day  of  May  current 
at  the  meeting  house  of  Pelham  then  and  there  to  Receive  the  return 
of  the  afore  said  Comeety  at  two  of  the  Clock  in  the  afternoon. 

John  Gray  Moderator. 
Recorded  by  Wilijam  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 


THE    FIRSr    SEITLERS.  43 

Meeiing  of  Proprietors  May  24,    1743. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Pelham  upon  ajornment  from 
May  the  iGtli  1743  to  May  24th  then  meet  and  Voted  that  the 
meeting  l^e  ajorned  to  the  26th  of  May  C'orrent  at  twelve  of  the 
Clock  at  the  meeting  house  of  said  Pelham  and  on  the  26th  of  May 
then  meet  and  ajorned  said  meeting  to  the  first  tusday  of  July  nixt  at 
two  of  the  ("lock  in   after  noon  at  the  meeting  house  of  said  Pelham. 

John  Gray  Moderator. 

There  is  no  record  of  any  action  at  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the 
first  Tuesday  of  July,  1743.  and  from  the  fact  that  a  warrant  for  a 
new  meeting  was  issued  by  Israel  Williams  of  Hatfield  on  petition  of 
nine  proprietors,  for  a  meeting  on  the  iSth  of  August,  it  is  probable 
that  there  was  some  illegallity  in  the  manner  of  issuing  the  warrant 
under  which  the  meeting  had  been  acting,  and  the  adjourned  meeting 
was  disregarded,  and  the  proprietors  entered  a  petition  for  a  new 
warrant  from  Israel  \\'illiams,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  living  at  Hatfield. 

WARRANT    ISSUED     BY     ISRAEL    WILLIAMS,    JUSnCE    PEACE. 

Hampshire  ss. 

To  William  (iray  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Townshipe  called  Pelham 
in  the  County  of  Hampshire     Greeting. 

Whereas  nine  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Afore  said  Township  have  made 
application  to  me  the  subscriber  one  of  his  Majestys  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  said  County  for  the  Calling  of  a  Meeting  of  said  I^roprietors  to  be  held 
and  keept  at  the  meeting  house  in  said  Pelham  on  the  iSth  day  of  Augst 
nixt  at  three  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon  in  order  to  Receive  the  request  of 
a  Comeety  appointed  to  Purchase  Elisha  Williams  Esqr  Right  of  Land  in 
said  Townshipe  as  by  the  same  under  the  hand  of  the  said  Proprietors 
bearing  date  the  26th  day  of  July  Instant  will  appear. 

These  are  therfore  in  his  Majetstys  name  To  require  a  meeting  of  the  said 
Proprietors  at  the  time  and  place  and  for  the  end  afore  said  and  you  are 
required  to  Post  up  notifications  here  of  in  some  Publict  place  in  said 
Pelham  forteen  days  at  least  before  the  time  for  holding  of  said  meeting, 
here  of  they  nor  you  may  feal.  Dated  at  Hatfield  the  30th  day  of  July  in  the 
seventeenth  year  of  his  Ma'st  Reign  anno  Domine  1743. 

IsKEAL  WiLi.LV.Ms  Justice  Peace. 
Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Meeting  Proprieiors  of   Pelham   Aug.    18,    1743. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Pelham  Lawfully  warned  there 
meet  and  Assembled  on  Aug  the  iSth  1743  And  then  first  was 
Chosen  John  Gray  Moderator. 


44  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Secondly,  We  Received  the  report  of  the  Commeety  sent  to  Pur- 
chase Elisha  Williams  Esqr  Right  of  Land  in  our  Townshipe  and 
the  Report  is  that  they  have  purchased  said  land  for  the  sunie  of 
thirty  Eight  Pounds  according  to  the  old  tenor  and 

Thirdly  it  is  Voted  that  said   money  be  paid  out  of  the  land  taxes. 

Forthly  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  ajorned  to  the  last  tusday  of 
October  nixt  at  three  of  the  Clock  in  the  Afternoon  at  the  Meeting 
house  of  said  Pelham. 

John  Gray  Moderator. 
Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

By  vertiie  of  the  above  warant  I  have  notified  the  Proprietors  of  Pelham 
by  Posting  up  notification  by  the  Sied  of  the  Meeting  house  Door  of  time 
and  place  within  menconed  by  me. 

William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

(  Return  of  the  above  Warant  Put  under  the  meeting  bv  mistake.) 

William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Warrant  for  Meeting  Proprietors  Sepl.  28,    1743. 

Hampshire  ss 
To  William  Gray  of  Pelham  In  the  County  of  Hampshire. 

Whereas  you  and  Eight  more  Proprietors  of  Lands  within  the  Townshipe 
of  Pelham  afore  said  have  by  writing  under  your  hands  Dated  September 
the  loth  1743  applayed  to  me  the  subscriber  for  a  warent  to  Call  a  meeting 
of  said  Proprietors  for  the  Purposes  hear  after  mentioned  you  are  therefor 
Required  to  Post  up  a  notification  under  your  hand  in  som  publick  place 
Requiring  said  Proprietors  to  meet  and  assemble  togeather  at  the  meeting 
house  In  said  Pelham  on  Wendsday  the  28th  Day  of  this  Instant  September 
at  teen  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  then  and  there  to  agree  on  a  method  for 
Calling  in  the  .debts  Dne  to  the  Proprietors  and  getting  accounts  of  Debets 
and  Credets  and  to  Receive  the  meeting  house  from  those  that  Bult  it  and 
to  agree  on  a  meathod  for  Calling  Proprietors  meetings  for  the  futer. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  12th  day  of  September  1743  in  the  17th 
year  of  his  Majests  Reighn. 

Elkezer  Porter  Justice  Peace. 
Recorded  by  William  (iuAY  Proprietors  Clerk. 

By  Vertue  of  the  within  warent  I  have  notified  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Town  of  Pelham  by  Posting  up  a  notification  by  the  sied  of  the  meeting 
house  door  to  meet  at  time  and  Place  within  menshoned. 

Dated  at  Pelham  Sept  the  2Slh  1743. 

William  Gray   I'roprietors  Clerk. 


THK    FIRS'l'    SETTLERS.  45 

Meeting  of   Proprietors  of  Pelham,   Sept.   28,    1743. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  I'own  of  Pelham  warned 
according  to  Law  to  meet  at  the  meeting  house  of  said  Pelham  on 
Sept  28th  1743  then  meet  and  assembled  on  said  day  and  was  chosen 
Samuel  Gray  Moderator — 

First  Voted  William  Gray  James  and  Robert  Peabels  to  be  a 
comeety  to  Receve  the  accounts  of  the  Proprietors. 

Secondly  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  ajorned  to  the  8th  day  of 
November  at  the  meeting  house  of  said  Pelham  at  teen  of  the  Clock 
in  the  for  noon. 

Samuel  Gray  Moderator. 
Recorded  by  \\illia.m  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Meeting  of   Proprietors  of  Pelham,   Nov.  8,    1743- 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  meet  and 
Assembled   upon  ajornment  from   Sept  28th  1743  to  November  8th. 

First  Voted  that  there  be  a  Commeety  Chosen  to  Agree  with  Mr. 
Robert  Abercrombie  for  what  time  he  has  been  with  us  and  the 
Commeety  is  George  Cowan  John  Clark  and  John  Gray  and  then 
was  voted  on  said  day  part  of  the  debets  perfixed  to  Each  Persons 
name — and  then  said  meeting  was  ajorned  to  the  ninth  of  November 
at  nin  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  at  the  meeting  house  of  said 
Pelham  then  meet  and  was  chosen  John  Gray  Alexander  Konkey  and 
James  Thornton  a  commeety  to  agree  with  a  suitable  Person  to  Keep 
our  Minister  and  also  to  provid  for  his  horse  Keeping  and  then  was 
Chosen  Robert  Rebels  James  Thornton  and  William  Gray  to  be  a 
commeety  to  see  what  of  the  Proprietors  Vots  is  nidfull  to  be 
Recorded  and  also  what  Recepts  will  be  given  out  to  those  that  the 
the  Proprietors  is  indebted  to  also. 

Voted  that  John  Konky  tack  Care  to  shut  the  meeting  house 
Doors — also 

Voted  that  John  Stimson  James  Thornton  John  Johnston  John 
Gray  and  George  Cowan  be  a  Commeety  to  Repare  to  the  Clerk  for 
warent  to  Call  Proprietors  meetings  for  the  future — 

Now  folowes  the  sums  granted  and  perfixed  to  there  names. 

Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Samuel  Gray  Moderator. 


46 


HISTORY    OF    l^KLHAM,     MA.SS. 


The  Sums  Voikd  and   Recorded  to   Each   Mann,   Nov.  8, 

All  these  debts  are  according  to  the   Old    Tenor,    and 
due  to  the  Proprietors. 


1743- 


oo 

04 

lO 

OO 

'4 

oo 

05 


to  John  (iray  for  (ilass  64 

to  Mr  Rol)crt  Abercrombie  100 

to  Robert  I'ebles  05 

to  Solomon  Boltwood  03 

to  Alexander  Turner  00 

to  Samuel  Gray  01 

to  James  Alexander  01 

to  Adam  Peteson  01 

to  James    Thornton  for   Mr 

Caldwell  oS  04  00 

to  James  Thornton  Andrew 
McFarland  and  William 
Gray  to  be  paid  to  Cornal 
Chandler  oS  09   10 

to  James  Thornton  and 
Ephraim  Cowan  to  be  paid 
to  Elisha  Williams  Esq     38  00  00 

to  John  Crawford  for  Rum  to 
the  Meeting  house  raising 

to  Robert  Pebles  for  53 
Wics  boarding  of  the 
minister. 

to  William  Konky  1 

to  James  Alexander 

to  James  Tiiornton, 

to  William  Gray  to  Mr  Aber- 
crombie for  hors  keeping 
the  first  winter 

to  Alexander  Turner 

to  Robert  Rebels 

to  John  Gray 

to  Patrick  Rebels 

to  Robert  Lotridge  for  hors 
keeping 

to  John  Stinson 

to  John  (iray 

to  Robert  Lotridge 

to  Robert  Rebels 

to  James  Thornton 

to  James  McColougii 

to  John  Gray 


to  James  Johnston 

to  John  Dick 

to  Robert  Rebels 

to  Ephraim  Cowan 

to  John  Johnston 

to  John  Stoddard  Esq 

to  Mr.  Hopkins 

to  Timothy  Dwight 

to  Matthew  Gray 

to  Samuel  Gray 

to  Alexander  Konkey  Jun 

to  John  Dick 

to  George  Cowan 

to  Alexander  Turnei 

to  John  Gray 

to  John  Konky 

to  Alexander  Konky 

to  James  Taylor 

to  William  Konky 

to  William  Croset 

to  William  Gray  for  service 

down  for  the  time  past  in 


are    1  )ebets 

£ 

s      d 

00 

10  c6 

01 

10  00 

00 

1  r   00 

01 

10  00 

00 

12    CO 

02 

16  00 

09 

00  00 

02 

00  00 

06 

ID    00 

07 

00  00 

un     01 

07    00 

03 

00    00 

01 

10  00 

00 

13   00 

01 

01  06 

CO 

16  c6 

03 

10  00 

01 

07    00 

02 

15  00 

01 

oS  00 

03 

05 

00 

Recording  for  Proprietors. 01  oS  co 

01 

10 

00 

Nere  begins  the  grants 

of  those  that 

05 

02 

00 

Paid  for  tranchaiit  Pr 
to  Robert  Pebles 
to  William  Gray 

eacJiiugtowit 
04  05  00 
01  01  00 

02 

■3 

02 

to  John  Fergerson 

or   00  00 

00 

07 

00 

to  Ephriam  Cowan 

01    00  00 

03 

lU 

00 

to  John  Gray 

04   II   00 

05 

00 

00 

to  Robert  Lotridge 

02  01   00 

01 

03 

00 

to  James  Konky 
to  James  Hood 

00  10  00 
00  02  00 

03 

08 

00 

to  James  Gilmore  jun 

00  05   CO 

00 

06 

00 

to  James  Alexander 

CO    05    CO 

01 

18 

00 

to  Mathew  Gray 

01    12  06 

00 

10 

00 

to  Samuel  (iray 

01  c6  00 

01 

05 

00 

to  James  Gilmore  jun 

00   13  00 

00 

10 

01 

to  James  Johnston 

00  10  00 

01 

10 

00 

to  William  Crosett 

CO  10  00 

01 

04 

00 

to  John  Alexander 

60  03  00 

•HE    FIRST    SF; 


47 


I 

s     d 

to  Andrew  Macklam 

oo 

03  00 

to  Robert  Macklam 

CO 

03  00 

to  James  Thornton 

oo 

03  00 

to  James  McColouogh 

oo 

03  00 

A'ow  follows   Debcts 

I'aid  to  the 

Proprietors. 

to  Robert  Rebels 

26 

19  00 

to  James  Thornton 

14 

1  I   00 

to  John  Gray 

12 

14  06 

to  William  CJ ray- 

04 

1 1   00 

to  Alexander  Konky 

04 

17  00 

to  Matthew  Gray 

08 

02  06 

John  Konky 

00 

16  06 

to  Robert  Pebels 

01 

13  04 

to  William  Konky 

05 

10  00 

to  Robert  Pebels 

02 

02  05 

to  Robert  Pebels 

01 

13  04 

to  John  Dick 

02 

09  04 

to  J'atrick  Pebels 

00 

03  00 

to  Robert  Pebels 

04 

01   00 

to  Mr  Robert  Abercromb- 

ie  100 

00  00 

to  Mr  Hopkens 

09 

00  00 

to  George  Cowan 

to  Robert  Peebles 

to  John  Craford 

to  Samuel  Gray 

to  Adam  Pateson 

to  Alexander  Turner  ( 

to  Solomon  Boltwoodby  his 

order  to  Matthew  ( 

to  John  Alexander  the  affuls 

of  a  bulock  to  James  Mc- 

Coloug'h  in  Tallow  and 

Molassas 
to  Robe  It  Lotridge 
to  Robert  Pebles 
to  Samuel  Gray 
to  William  Crosett 
to  John  Johnson  i 

to  John  Alexander 


05 


05  00 


05 

19 

00 

04 

>7 

00 

04  OS 

4 

01 

iS 

00 

00 

15 

00 

00 

14 

00 

to  James  Alexander  03 

to  Mr  Robert  Abercrombie  02 
to  John  Gray  for  Gleaze  to 

the  Meeting  house  64 

to  James  Dayton  04 

to  James  Taylor  for  paying 

of  Mr  Hopkens  04 

to  John  Johnston  for  paying 

of  Mr  Hopkens  03 

to  John  l-ergerson  01 

to  James  Gilmor  sen  00 

to  Robert  Pebels  01 

to  James   Johnson   for    Mr 
Hopkins  to  James  John- 
ston 01 
to  Robert  Pebels                     04 
to  Robert  Maklam                  06 
to  John  Stinson                         00 
This  nine  pounds  to  Mr  Ho 
was   paid   to  those  that  paid  o 
said  money. 

to  James  Hood  00 

to  James  Gilmor  Jun  00 

to  James  Thornton  Andrew 
McFarland   and   William 
(Jray  to  pay  John  Chand- 
ler jun  08 
to     Janies     Thornton      and 
ICphraim    Cowan    to   pay 
l-:iisha  Williams  tisq  38 
to  Andrew  Macklam              60 
to  William  (iray                      04 
to  John  Stoddard  Esqr          02 
to  Timothy  Dwight  Esq   to 

John  Dick  02 

to  William  firay  co 

to  Ephraim  Cowan  02 

to  Isreal  William  Esq  01 

to  William  (]rav  04 


s 

d 

05 

00 

13 

02 

01 

09 

07 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

00 

15 

00 

02 

06 

00  g6 
06  00 
03  00 
06  00 
pkens 
ut  the 


00  oN 
18  GO 
10  00 
17  00 
n  00 


Wakraxt  for  Mf.etixg  of  Proprietors  Aj^kil  26,  1744. 

Hampshire  ss.  To  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk  of  the  Town  of 
Pelham  and  County  of  Hampshire  Greeting. 

These  are  therefore  in  his  Majestis  name  to  will  and  require  you  forth  with 
to  warn  the  Proprietors  of  said    Town    by    Posting   up  notifications  in  som 


48  HISIORY    or-'    PEI,HA.M,    iMASS. 

pul)lick  Place  within  the  said  Town  of  Pelham  to  Meet  and  Assemble  them- 
selves at  the  Meeting  house  of  said  Town  on  'I'hursday  the  26th  day  of  this 
instant  April  at  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  fore  noon  then  and  there. 

I  To  chouse  a  committy  to  tack  care  of  what  common  land  belongs  to 
the  said  Proprietors  so  as  it  may  be  put  to  the  use  of  the  Proprietors— 

II  To  Chouse  a  Committy  to  luck  after  William  \'oung'  money  due  to 
him  from  the  Propriety. 

III  To  Chouse  a  Commeety  and  apoint  them  witii  full  Powr  to  do  what 
may  be  nessery  to  reas  and  Cause  be  brought  unto  the  treasury  tlie  Taxes 
Assessed  upon  the  Proprietors  to  end  these  debets  may  be  with  all  Conve- 
neant  speed  Paid  according  to  there  order. 

nil  to  See  if  the  Propriety  will  consult  to  renew  the  lines  of  all  there 
divisions  of  lands. 

V  to  all  that  have  any  Debets  or  Credits  to  bring  them  in  to  said  meeting. 

VI  to  see  if  the  propriety  will  allow  Thomas  Dick  any  allowance  of 
adition  towards  building  of  the  meeting  house. 

Hearof  feal  not  and  mack  return  of  your  doings  som  time  before  said 
Meeting  to  one  of  us  Suljscribers  as  witness  our  hands  and  seal  this  3th  day 
of  April  anno  domni  1744  and  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  majesties  Reigne 
■  &c  James  Thornton  George  Cowan  John  Stinson  John  Johnston  John  (iray 
Commeety. 

By  vertue  of  the  within  Warrent  I  have  warned  the  Proprietors  to  meet  at 
time  and  Place  above  mencioned  by  Posting  up  a  notification  by  the  meeting 
house  Door  April  26th  1744 

Pk   William   C.r.w   Proprietors  Clerk 

Meeting  of   Proprietors  of  Pelham  April  261H    1744. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  Legally 
assembled  on  thursday  the  26th  of  April  1744  then  meet  on  Said 
day  and  was  chosen  Samuel  Gray  Moderator. 

I  Voted  that  John  Stinson  Samuel  Gray  and  Robert  Pebels  be  a 
Comeety  to  luck  after  what  Common  Lands  belongs  to  the  Propriety. 

II  Voted  that  James  Konky  Patrick  Pebels  and  John  Jonston  be 
a  Comeety  with  full  Powr  to  do  what  may  be  nesshry  to  reas  and 
Cause  to  be  brought  unto  the  Tresery  the  Taxes  assessed  upon  the 
Proprietors  to  the  end  these  Debets  may  be  with  all  Coii\eneant 
Speed  Paid  according  to  there  order. 

III  Voted  that  Every  neighboure  meet  and  renew  there  lins  of  all 
there  Lands  by  the  first  clay  November  nixt. 

nil  Voted  the  sums  of  money  set  to  each  Persons  name  being 
due  to  them  by  said  Proprietors  to  wit  all  old  tenor 


THE    FIKSr    SETTLERS. 


49. 


THE    DEBETS     PAID 

Paid  to  the  undernamed 

£  s  s 
to  Alexander  Thomson  01  10  00 
to  Samuel  McLachay  15  00  00 

to  Robert  Rebels  01  00  00 

to  Mr  Robert  Abercrombie  63  00  00 
to  Robert  Pebels  02  03  00 

to  Ephraim  Cowan  05  06  00 

to  John  Gray  14   17  00 

to  Mr  Robert  Al:)ercrombie 

tlie  sum  of 
to  Robert  Pebels 
to  James  Thornton 
to  William  Gray 
to  John  Hamilton 
to  Alexander  Thomson 


DEBTS    DUE 


/  s  s 
to  Mr  Robert  Abercromcie  63  00  00 
to  Ephram  Cowan  05  00  00 

to  William  Young  03  00  00 

to  John  Gray  for  hors  keep- 
ing 14   17  00 
to  Samuel  McLakey  15  00  00 
to  Robert  Pebels  for   Bord- 

ing  14  00  00 

to  William  Gray  01    10  00 

to  Robert  Pebels  00   12  06 

to  James  Thornton  00  07  06 

to  John  Hamilton  01  04  00 

Granted  to  Alexander  Thom- 
son 03  00  00 
September  the  i8th  1743 
V      Voted  that  Robert  Pebels  James  Thornton  and   W'illiam    Gray 
be  a  Comeety  to  geve  out  orders  for  the  above   Debets   and   to  mack 
up  accounts  with  James  Alexander  and  James  Taylor  Colectors. 

Samuel  Gray  Moderator 
By   Willlam   Gray   Proprietors  Clerk. 


42  GO  GO 
32  18  07 

OG  16  g6 
02  19  g8 

GI  G4  GO 

04  10  00 


Warrant  for  Meeting  of  Proprietors  July  24  1744 

To  William  Cxray  Proprietors  Clerk  of  the  town  of  I^elham  and  County  of 
Hampshire  Greeting 

These  are  therefor  in  his  Majestes  name  to  will  and  Require  you  forthwith, 
to  warn  the  Proprietors  of  said  Town  by  Posting  up  notification  in  som 
publick  place  within  the  town  of  Pelham  to  meet  and  assemble  themselves 
at  the  meetinghouse  of  said  town  on  tuesday  the  twinty  forth  day  of  this 
instant  July  at  Eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  then  and  there  — 

I  To  Consider  what  is  nessary  to  be  done  with  Regard  to  the  Lands 
Claimed  by  Road  Town  and  Sealam  formly  supposed  to  belong  to  the  Pro- 
prietors and  to  apoint  what  ever  they  judge  Requisite  in  that  affaire — 

I I  To  hear  what  may  be  Laid  before  the  Proprietors  by  there  Committee 
appointed  to  agree  with  one  to  bulde  the  meeting  house  and  to  order  whatever 
tiiey  may  find  necessary  for  the  finishing  of  that  business. 

III  To  enquire  what  there  Committee  appointed  to  erase  the  Taxes 
alredy  assessed  have  don  in  that  matter — and  to  enlarge  there  Power  if 
found  necessary  and  appoint  others  in  place  of  such  or  all  of  them  who 
cannot  or  refuse  to  serve. 

Hereof  feal  not  and  mack  due  return  of  your  doings  to  one  of  us  the  sub- 
scribers before  said  meeting  as  witness  our  hands  and  seal  this  ninth  day  of 
July  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty  foure  and  in  the  P^ighteenth 
\ear  of  liis  majestes  Reighn. 


c;o  msiOKV    OK     rKI.IIAM.     MASS. 

By  vcrtue  of  the  above  warcnt  I  have  warned  tlie  Proprietors  by  posting 
up  a  notification  by  tlie  side  of  the  meeting  house  door  to  meet  at  time  and 
place  above  mencioned  July  y'  24"'  1744 

llv   William  (Irav   Proprietors  Clerk. 

MkEI'ING    of     PROI-RIKIOKS    jrL\-    24     I  7  44 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprelors  of  the  town  of  Pelhani  on  tusday 
the  24th  day  of  July  1744  then  meet  on  Said  day  and  then  was  chosen 
Robert  Pebels  Moderator 

I  Voted  that  there  be  a  connneetly  Chosen  to  tack  all  proper 
methods  to  see  what  Land  is  lost  l)y    Preand^ling   the    liiLs  by    Road 

Town  and  Sealom.  The  said  Commeety  is  John  Stinso!i  John 
Koiik\-  and  James  C.ilmor  sen  the  said  Commeetty  is  appointed  to 
bring  what  each  Lot  has  lost  that  Lys  upon  the  said  lins. 

II  X'oted  that  Thomas  and  John  Dicks  be  alowed  the  sume  of 
thirty  pounds  according  to  the  old  tenor  in  case  they  Deliver  up  there 
bounds  which  they  deceived  of  the  Commetty  that  agreed  with  them 
to  bueld  the  meeting  House 

III  X'oted  that  Thomas  Dick  l)e  a  Commeety  man  in  the  rcjom  of 
|ohn  Johnson  to  tack  Care  of  the  Ta.xes  alredy  essessed  according  as 
it  IS  -nenshoned  in  the  vote  in  April!  the  26th  1744  also  that  the  said 
Comnieety  is  alowed  by  vote  to  Call  Timothy  Dwighl  Ksc]  for  there 
assistance  when  need  Recfuires. 

IIII  Voted  that  this  meeting  is  ajourned  to  the  first  tusday  of 
October  next  at  Light  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  at  the  Meeting 
houseof  said  Pelham  to  Receive  the  returns  of  the  above   Commeettys 

RoiiKKi-  I^1':bels   Moderator 

Paid  to  Thomas  I  )it:k  by  order  of  the  'j'reserer  the  sum  /"15,  00  s,  00  p. 

Adjourned  Meetinc;    of   Prorrieiors  Oci'  2    1744. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  tlie  Town  of  Pelham  Lpon 
ajornnient  from  the  24th  day  of  July  1744  to  the  2th  of  October  fol- 
lowing to  Receive  the  Report  of  the  Commeete  chosen  to  see  what 
Land  is  lost  in  runing  our  lin  betvvi.xt  us  and  the  town  of  Road  town 
Sealom  and  then  was  chosen  Thomas  Dick  Moderator  in  Place  of 
Robert  Pebels  being  absent  and  was 

Voted  that  this  meeting  is  ajorn'd  to  the  30th  of  this  instant  Octo- 
ber at  Light  of  the  Clock    in    the    for  noon    at    the    meeting  house  of 


GRAVE    STOXK    OF    CAITAIX    IIIOMA^ 


;VING    OR D UNO. 


A.MHEK.ST   WATKR  COMPANY  S  UPPER  KESEKVOIR,    APPLE  TREl.N  IN   lil.OCJAl. 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  5 1 

said  Pelham  for  ter  see  what  meathod   will  be  taiken    as   to   the    said 
land  lost  upon  our  north  lin 

Thomas  Dick  Moderator 
Paid  to  John  Dick  by  order  of  the  Treasurer  the  sum  of  ^15-00-00 

Adjourned  Meeting  of  Proprietors  Oct  30  1744 
At  a  meeting  upon  ajorment  from  October  the  2th  1744  to  the 30th 
of  said  October  there  Meet  on  said  day  and  there  was  Voted  that 
those  that  lost  there  Land  by  Perambulating  the  lin  betwixt  us  and 
Road  Town  and  Sealoni  shall  have  Reasonoble  Recestucion  fore  the 
same  as  shall  be  ajudged  by  a  Commeety  yet  to  chosen. 

This  meeting  is  by  vot  ajorned  to  the  second  tusday  of  March 
nixt  furder  to  consult  what  meathods  may  be  taiken  about  said  Land 
at  teen  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  at  the  Meeting  house  of  Said 
Pelham 

Tho.m.as   Dick   Modc^rator 

Adjourned  Meetixc;  of  the  Proprietors  March    12    1745 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Town  of  Pelham  upon  ajorn- 
ment  from  the  30th  day  of  October  1744  and  from  said  October  it 
was  ajorned  to  the  12th  day  of  March  nixt  then  meet  on  said  day 
and  was  chosen  John  Gray  Moderator  by  Reason  of  Thomas  Dick 
being  absent  First  Voted  that  James  Konky  go  to  Kings  Town  to 
see  if  he  can  prevent  the  Selling  of  the  Property  for  money  Borowed 
by  them  from  Samuel  Fergerson  and  said  James  Konky  is  to  doit  in 
what  meathod  he  can  when  he  gos  their. 

This  Meeting  is  ajorned  by  vot  to  the  Second  tusday  of  August 
nixt  at  teen  of  the  clock  in  the  fore  noon  at  the  Meeting  House  of 
said  Pelham  forder  to  Consider  the  afearn  of  Said  Land 

John   Gray   Moderator 

Adjourned  Meeting  of    the  Proprietors  Au(;ust   13    1745 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  upon 
ajornment  from  the  12th  day  of  March  1744  to  the  13th  of  August 
1745  then  meet  on  said  day  and  was  chosen  Thomas  Dick  Moderator 
by  reason  of  John  Gray  being  absent  and  by  Vot  this  Meeting  is 
ajourned  to  the  last  tusday  of  September  nixt  at  twelve  of  the  Clock 
at  the  Meeting  house  of  said  Pelham  forder  to  Conseder  the  ofear 
of  the  land  thats  a  wanting  on  our  north  line 

Thomas    Dick   Moderator. 


52  history  of  pelhaim,  mass. 

Adjourned  Meetino  of  Proprietors  Sept  24   1745 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  tlie  Town  of  Pelham  upon 
ajornment  from  the  13th  of  August  1745  to  the  24th  day  of  Septem- 
ber folowing  there  meet  on  said  day  and  was  Chosen  James  Konlvy 
Moderator,  by  Reason  of  Thomas  Dicls.  being  absent. 

First  Voted  that  there  be  a  Commeette  Chosen  to  see  what  each 
Lot  Corns  Short  in  the  North  Reange  Betwi.xt  the  Cros  Road  and 
the  west  end  of  Said  Reange — the  Commeette  Chosen  is  to  wit  James 
Alexander  James  Konky  and  John  Clark 

By  vot  this  Meeting  is  ajourned  to  the  last  tusday  of  November 
ni.xt  at  teen  of  the  Clock  in  the  for  noon  at  the  Meeting  house  of 
Said  Pelham  forder  to  Consider  the  ofFear  of  the  land  Lost  on  our 
north  Lin 

James  Konky  Moderator 
By  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk. 

.As  the  next  meeting  was  called  by  a  warrent  it  shows  that  this 
much  adjourned  meeting  failed  to  meet  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  Novem- 
ber 1745.      A  marginal  note  explains  the  result. 

''  A  meeting  upon  ajornment,  and  now  this  meeting  sinks  by  not 
meeting."  The  sinking  of  the  meeting  allowed  rest  and  further 
consideration  before  the  ne.xt  meeting  ot  the  Proprietors  which  was  not 
called  until  the  following  April  when  the  question  of  "  Land  lost  by 
Preambling"  was  taken  up  again. 

W.A.RRANT    for    MEETING    OF    PROPRIETORS    APRIL    8,    1746 

To  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk  for  the  Town  of  Pelham  and  County 
of  Hampshire— Greeting — These  are  thefore  in  his  Majestes  name  to  will 
and  Require  you  forth  with  to  warn  the  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Pelham 
by  notification  to  meet  and  assemble  them  selves  at  the  meeting  house  of 
said  Pelham  on  tusday  the  Eight  day  of  April  at  nin  of  the  Clock  in  the  for 
noon  then  and  there  to  Consider  of  a  Meathod  to  meak  Satisfaction  to  those 
of  the  Propriety  that  Lost  Land  by  Preambling  our  town  lin  by  Road  town 
and  Sealom  at  the  desire  of  Samuel  Gray 

2iy  to  see  if  the  Propriety  will  Chuse  a  Commeette  to  go  and  talk  with  our 
first  Commeette  to  Wit  Andrew  McFarland  Robert  Lotridge  and  Samuel 
Gray  to  see  if  they  will  Make  Satisfaction  for  there  not  Running  the  line 
according  to  these  Directions  and  also  upon  there  Refusal  to  Mack  Satis- 
faction said  commeette  to  be  impowered  to  Procecut  said  Commeette  at  the 
Law  for  there  non  Performansc  which  Caused  our  Second  Commeette  to  go 
astray  in  the  laying  out  our  Second  and  third  divisions  which  is  Lickly  to 
Cost  the  I'reprietry  a  (ireat  deal  of  truble  and  Charge 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  53 

5ly  To  see  if  the  Propriety  will  chuse  a  Conimeette  to  luck  after  what 
Common  land  belongs  to  the  Propriety. 

Heare  of  feal  not  and  Mack  due  return  to  one  of  us  the  Subscribers  sum 
time  befor  said  meeting  as  witness  our  hands  and  seal  this  third  day  of 
March  A.  D.  1745-6  and  in  the  nineteethyear  of  the  Reigneof  ourSouvraine 
Lord  George  the  Second  of  Great  Brietaen  King  &c 

Commeette  James  Thornton 
George  Cowan 
John  Stinson 
John  Johnson 

By  Vertue  of  the  within  Warrant  I  have  notified  the  Propriety  by  Posting 
up  a  notification  by  the  side  of  the  meeting  house  door  to  meet  at  time  and 
Place  within  mencioned  by  me 

William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk 

Meetinc.  of  Proprietors  April  8,   1746 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  on  tusday 
the  Eight  day  of  Aprill  1746  then  meet  on  Said  Day  and  was  Chosen' 
Thomas  Dick  moderator. 

First  Voted  that  there  be  no  Commeette  Chosen  to  Vine  the  Land 
that  was  Lost  on  our  north  Hn  by  Road  Town  and  Sealom. 

Secondly  Voted  that  there  be  a  Commeette  Chosen  to  talk  with  the 
Commeette  that  Laid  out  the  hom  Lots  of  said  Town 

Thirdly  Voted  that  said  Commeette  is  George  Cowan  James  Alex- 
ander and  John  Johnston.  Said  Commetee  is  George  Cowan 
James  Alexander  and  John  Johnston.  The  Return  of  Said 
Commettee  is  that  Samuel  Gray  will  maake  no  Satisfaction  till  the 
Law  Macks  him  and  Robert  Latridge  Pleads  not  Gilty  for  the  Reason 
that  he  was  over  Pour'd  by  the  Rest  of  Said  Commeette 

Fourthly  Voted  that  the  above  said  Commeette  is  not  to  truble  the 
other  Commeette  at  ye  Law  which  Laid  out  the  first  Lots 

Fiftly  Voted  that  there  be  no  Commeette  to  luck  after  the  Common 
land  for  the  Present 

Thomas  Dick  Moderator. 
Recorded  by  William  Gray  Proprietors  Clerk 

The  above  is  the  last  regularly  called  meeting  of  the  Proprietors 
that  was  called  and  held  at  the  meeting  house  where  the  action  of  the 
meetings  was  spread  upon  the  Proprietors  Book  and  the  temper  of 
the  meeting,  judging  from  the  record,  was  to  quit  fretting  and  fuming 

5 


54 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


about  "Land  lost  by  Preambulating  by  Road  Town  and  Sealom  "  on 
the  north  Une  of  the  town.  That  it  was  a  substantial  dropping  of 
the  question  there  can  be  little  doubt,  for  at  least  a  dozen  years  and 
more,  and  when  it  was  next  agitated  it  was  more  in  the  form  of 
individuals  seeking  to  have  the  Proprietors  recompense  them  for 
alleged  loss  of  land.  Whether  the  loss  complained  of  was  caused 
by  a  land  grab  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Road  Town  and  Sealom 
(Shutesbury  and  New  Salem)  or  that  the  shortage  was  due  to  mis- 
takes in  surveying  we  are  unable  to  determine.  It  may  have  been 
from  defective  surveying  and  from  difficulty  in  finding  the  exact  line 
between  the  towns  and  not  chargeable  to  any  intent  on  the  part  of 
Roadtown  people  to  grab  land  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of  Pelham. 

From  April  8,  1746  until  April  27  a.  d.  1760  the  Original  Proprie- 
tors Book  had  no  line  written  upon  its  pages. 

At  that  time  there  was  a  revival  of  the  charge  of  loss  of  land  and 
under  the  last  named  date  we  find  the  record  of  Thomas  Dick  taking 
the  oath  as  Proprietors  Clerk,  preparatory  to  calling  a  meeting  of  the 
Proprietors  to  Consider  the  matter  of  the  lost  land.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  none  of  the  meetings  of  the  proprietors  were  called  or  held  at 
the  meeting  house  but  at  private  houses  of  proprietors  and  mostly  if 
not  wholly  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Dick  who  seems  to  have  been  the 
prime  mover  or  organizer  of  the  new  campaign  to  recover  lost  lands. 

Thomas  Dick  Sworn  as   Proprietors  Clerk. 

Hampshipe  ss  April  27  1761 
Then  Thomas  Dick  of  Pelham  in  the  same  County  upon  Declaring 
himself  to  be  Chosen  Clerk  of  the  Lisburn  Propreity,  So  Called  in 
said  Pelham  was  Sworn  to  the  true  and  faithfull  Discharge  of  his 
trust  in  that  office  according  to  the  best  of  his  Knowledge  c\; 
Discretion 

Coram     C.   Phelps  Justice   Peace 

Entered  from  the  Original 

Pr  Th(jnl-\s   Dick   Proprietors  Clerk 

Warrant  for  Proprietors  Meetik(;  May  28  1761 

Hampshire  ss:  To  Robert  Lothridge  hereafter  named  Gent,  One  of  the 
Proprietors  of  a  Tract  of  Land  in  Pelham  in  sd  County  Called  the  Lisburn 
Propriety— Greeting— 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  55 

Whereas  application  In  writing  bearing  Date  the  twenty  sixth  day  of 
March  last  hais  been  made  to  Me  tlie  Subscriber  one  of  his  Majestys  Jus- 
ticies  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Hampshire  by  Robert  Lotridge  Thomas 
Johnston  Alexander  Turner  Thomas  Dick  Mathew  Gray,  five  of  the  Pro- 
prietors of  a  large  Tract  of  land  lying  in  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hamp- 
shire Called  the  Lisburn  Propriety — Bounded  Northrly  Partly  by  Roadtown 
and  partly  by  New  Salem,  Easterly  by  Greenwich,  Southerly  by  a  range  of 
the  Equivalent  land  formerly  owned  by  Whittlesey  and  Hall  and  Westerly 
by  the  District  of  Amherst,  which  tract  was  Originally  owned  and  held  in 
Common  by  a  body  of  Proprietors,  and  whereof  the  Partion  is  not  to  this  day 
Compleated — Requesting  a  Warrant  for  Calling  of  a  meeting  of  sd  Proprie- 
tors to  be  Holden  at  the  House  of  Thomas  Dick  Inholder  in  Pelham  afore- 
said on  Wednesday  the  twenty  eight  day  of  May  next  at  ten  of  the  Clock  in 
the  forenoon  for  the  purposes  folowing  to  wit — In  the  first  place  to  Choose  a 
Moderator  for  Sd  Meeting. 

Nextly  to  Chuse  a  Clerk  to  enter  and  Record  tlie  Votes  and  doings  of  the 
Proprietors — Also  to  Consider  and  determine  whether  there  hais  not  been  a 
very  great  error  made  in  laying  out  of  all  the  Lots  in  Said  Propriety  that 
were  Supposed  to  have  been  laid  adjoining  on  the  north  line  of  Sd  tract 
much  to  the  wrong  and  loss  of  the  Proprietors  to  whom  Sd  Lots  were  laid 
out,  the  then  Sd  five  Proprietors  supposing  that  by  reason  of  a  mistake  of 
said  line  Considerable  land  has  been  assigned  to  Sd  Proprietors  in  part  of 
satisfaction  of  their  share  in  Sd  tract  of  land  which  never  was  any  part  of 
the  same  and  therefor  Cannot  be  held  by  them  to  whom  Sd  lots  was  laid  out. 
Allso  if  the  Proprietors  when  met  shall  be  satisfied  that  such  an  error  as  the 
above  said  has  been  Committed  to  desire  some  method  whereby  to  make 
Satisfaction  to  Such  Proprietors  as  have  been  Injured  thereby. — Also  to 
Consider  and  Determine  whither  they  will  proceed  to  divide  the  Lands  in  Sd 
tract  that  have  hitherto  lain  in  Common  and  Undivided,  and  in  what  manner. 
You  are  therefore  hereby  required  to  notify  and  warn  the  Proprietors  of  Sd 
tract  of  land  that  they  Assemble  themselves  at  the  time  and  place  above 
specified  then  and  there  to  Consider  and  Act  upon  the  articles  above  men- 
tioned which  Warning  you  are  to  give  them  by  Posting  up  a  notification  in 
writing  in  some  public  place  or  places  in  Sd  Town  of  Pelham  fourteen  days 
at  lest  before  the  day  above  mentioned  for  holding  Sd  meeting  to  wit  ye 
twenty  eight  day  of  May  next  therein  setting  forth  particularly  the  time  place 
and  business  of  Sd  meeting  herein  before  mentioned. 

Hear  of  you  may  not  fail  and  you  are  to- make  return  of  this  precept  with 
your  doings  in  obedience  thereto  fairly  Indorsed  thereon  Into  said  .Meeting 
at  the  opening  of  the  same. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Northampton  in  Sd  County  of  Hamp- 
shire this  ninth  day  of  April  Anno  Dom  1761  in  the  Thirty  third  year  of 
His  Majestys  Reighn 

Joseph  Hawley 

Entered  from  the  Original  by  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 
Pelham  May  28  1760 


56  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Pelham  May  28  1760— By  V^ertue  of  the  above  warrant  I  have  notified  the 
Proprietors  to  meet  at  times  and  place  thereon  mentioned  by  setting  up  a 
notification  at  Worcester  and  Pelham 

Robert  Latriijge 

Entered  from  the  Original  Thomas  Dick   Proprietors  Clerk 

Meetinc;  ok   Proprietors  May  28    1760 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  ('ailed. 
on  the  28  day  of  May  1760  at  the  House  of  I'homas  Dick  Inholder. 

First  Thomas  Dick  was  chosen  Moderator 

Secondly  Thomas  Dick  was  Chosen  Clerk. 

Thirdly  Patrick  Pebels  chosen  to  get  Colonal  Timothy  Dwight 
William  Young  and  Mr  Rust  in  order  to  find  the  true  line  on  the 
north  side  of  the  above  named  propriety 

Forthly  Voted  that  William  Crosett  Alexander  Turner  and  Robert 
Lothridge  be  a  Commeete  to  search  out  what  common  land  is  in  Sd 
tract  above  and  make  report  to  the  Proprietors  when  next  met 

Fiftly  Voted  that  this  meeting  is  ajorned  to  tusday  the  twenty 
third  of  September  next  at  ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon  to  said 
Dicks 

Recorded  by  'Phomas   Dick  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Adjourned  Meeitno    Septe-mher    23    1760 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  aforesaid  held  by  adjournment 
from  May  28  1760  to  Sept  23  1760  at  ten  oclock  fornoon  and  then 
met  at  the  Dwelling  house  of  I'homas  Dick  above  said  in  Sd  Pelham 

First  Voted  that  those  Proprietors  that  hais  lost  Land  on  the  north 
line  of  the  Propriety  have  Satisfaction  at  the  Judgment  of  a  Com- 
mete  to  be  chosen  for  that  business 

Secondly  Voted  that  David  Huston  John  Craford  and  William 
Harkness  be  a  Commeette  to  vew  the  1-and  lost  on  said  line  and  to 
value  the  same 

Thirdly  Voted  that  the  Said  Committee  make  return  of  their  doings 
to  the  Propretors  when  next  meet. 

Forthly  Voted  that  Capt  Robert  Lotheridge  Alexender  Turnorand 
William  Crosett  be  a  Commeette  to  sell  what  Common  lands  belongs 
to  the  Proprietors  that  there  is  no  claim  to  or  Return  of. 

Fiftly  Voted  that  there  be  two  shillings  and  Fight  Pence  laid  on 
each  sixteeth  part  of  said  Property  to  defray  charges 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS. 


57 


Sixtly  Voted  that  'I'homas  Dick  be  Treasurer  for  said   Proprietors 
Seventhly  Voted  to  adjourn  said  meeting  to  the  twenty  fifth  day  of 
December   next  to   Meet  at   one  o  clock   afternoon  at  the  Dwelling 
house  of  Thomas  Dick  Inholder  at  Pelham  aforesaid. 

Recorded  by  Thomas   Dick   Proprietors  Clerk 

Adjourned  Meeting  Dec.  25    1760 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  aforesaid  held  by  ajornment  from 
September  23  1760  to  Dec.  25,  1760  at  one  of  the  Clock  afternoon 
and  then  met  the  dwelling  house  of  Thomas  Dick  in  Pelham  Inholder. 

First  Voted  that  Alexander  McCulogh  and  Patrick  McMullen  is 
added  as  Commetee  men  to  Prise  the  Land  lost  on  the  north  side  of 
said  Property 

Secondly  Voted  that  Thomas  Dick  Alexander  McColough  and  John 
Dick  be  a  Commete  to  expose  the  Proprietors  Lands  for  Sale  for 
payment  of  Rates  as  there  shall  be  ocation 

Thirdly  Voted  Patrick  Peobels  for  servis  done  the  Property. 

Sixtly  Voted  that  this  meeting  is  adjourned  to  May  27,  1761  atone 
oclock  afternoon  to  Meet  at  the  Dwelling  house  of  Thomas  Dick  in 
Pelham  aforesaid 

Recorded  by  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Adjourned  Meetino  May  27    1761 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  so  called 
held  by  ajournment  from  December  25  1760  to  May  27  1761  at  one 
o'clock  afternoon  at  the  Dwelling  house  of  Thomas  Dick  in  Pelham 
Inholder 

First  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  adjurned  for  one  hour  to  meet  at 
this  place 

Secondly  Voted  that  the  aprisement  rendered  by  the  Commeetee 
to  prize  the  land  lost  on  the  north  lins  of  said  Pelham  is  excepted. 

Thirdly  Voted  to  send  a  petition  to  the  Genaral  Court  to  help  us 
concerning  said  land 

Fourthly  Voted  Thomas  Dick  to  carry  on  said  petition 

Fiftly  Voted  that  this  meeting  is  adjourned  to  the  last  Monday  of 
June  next  to  meet  at  one  oclock  afternoon  at  the  Dwelling  house  of 
Thomas  Dick  Inholder  in  said  Pelham 

Recorded  by  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 


58  hisioky  of  pelham,  mass. 

Warrant  for  Proprietors  Meeting  June  9,  1761 

Hampshire  s.  s. — To  Thomas  Johnston  hereafter  named  one  of  the 
Proprietors  of  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Pelham  in  Sd  County — Greeting. 

Whereas  Application  in  writing  dated  the  first  day  of  March  has  been 
made  to  me  the  subscriber  one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the 
Sd  County  of  Hampshire  by  Thomas  Johnston  Patrick  Peebles  John  Conky 
John  Clark  and  Robert  Lotheridge,  five  of  the  Proprietors  of  a  large  tract  of 
Land  in  Pelham  aforesaid  called  the  Lisburn  Propriety  lyeing  in  Comen,  the 
proportion  of  each  Proprietor  therein  being  stated,  Bounded  northerly  by 
Shutesbury  and  Partly  by  New  Salem,  Easterly  by  Greenwich,  South  by  a 
Reange  of  the  Equivalent  land  formerly  owned  by  Whitelsy  and  Hall  and 
Westerly  by  the  District  of  Amherst  requesting  a  warrant  for  the  warning 
of  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  Sd  tract  to  be  holden  at  the  Dwelling 
house  of  Thomas  Dick  Inholder  in  said  Pelham  aforesaid  on  Wendsday  the 
ninth  day  of  June  next  at  one  of  the  Clock  afternoon  for  the  purposes folow- 
ing  to  wit 

In  the  first  place  to  chose  a  Clerk  to  enter  and  Record  all  those  votes  and 
orders  that  shall  be  made  and  passed  in  the  meeting  of  Sd  Proprietors. 

Also  to  Consider  and  determine  whether  there  hais  not  been  a  great  Error 
made  in  laying  out  all  the  Lots  in  Sd  tract  that  were  supposed  to  have  laid 
adjoining  the  North  line  of  Sd  tract  to  the  great  wrong  and  loss  of  those 
particular  Proprietors  to  whom  Sd  lots  were  laid  out  they  the  five  Proprietors 
apprehending  that  by  reason  of  a  mistake  of  said  line  Considerable  land  has 
been  assigned  to  said  particular  Proprietors  in  part  satisfaction  of  thare 
shares  in  said  tract  which  never  was  any  part  of  the  same  nor  did  belong 
thereto  and  lying  Northward  of  Sd  line  and  therefore  cannot  be  held  by  the 
Particular  Proprietors  to  whom  Sd  land  was  laid  out  and  thereby  a  deficulty 
hais  hapened  to  them  of  the  quantity  of  land  in  Sd  tract  which  was  supposed 
to  have  been  aloted  to  them — also  if  the  Proprietors  when  met  shall  be  satis- 
fied that  such  an  Error  as  the  above  Sd  has  been  Comited  to  devise  and 
order  some  Method  whereby  to  make  satisfaction  to  such  Proprietors  as 
have  been  Injured  thereby — Also  to  Consider  and  determine  whither  they 
will  proceed  to  set  out  and  alot  the  lands  within  Sd  tract  that  have  not  hither- 
to been  laid  out  and  in  what  Manner 

You  are  therefore  in  his  Majestes  name  hereby  recjuired  to  notify  and 
warn  the  Proprietors  of  said  tract  of  Land  that  they  assemble  themselves  at 
the  time  and  place  above  Mentioned  which  warning  you  are  to  give  them  by 
posting  up  notification  in  writing  under  your  hand  in  some  publick  Place  or 
places  in  said  Town  of  Pelham  fourteen  days  at  least  before  the  day  above 
mention  for  holding  said  meeting  therein  particularly  setting  forth  the  time 
place  and  business  of  Sd  meeting  herein  before  mentioned 

Hereof  you  may  not  feal  and  you  are  to  make  Return  of  the  presents  with 
your  doing  in  obedience  to  the  same  fairly  certified  thereon  under  your  hand 
into  said  meeting  at  the  time  aforementioned  for  holding  the  same. 


IHE    FIRSJ'    SETTLERS.  59 

Given  under  my  liand  and  seal  at  Northampton  in  Sd  County  this  eighth 
day  of  May  A.  D.  1762  in  the  Second  year  of  his  Majestys  Reighn. 

Joseph  Hawlev 
Entered  from  the  Original  by  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Return  of  Warrant 
By  Virtue  of  a  Warrant  to  me  directed  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  Joseph 
Hawley  one  of  his  Majestys  Justices  of  the  peace  I  have  warned  the  Pro- 
prietors of  the  Lisburn  Proprietie  so  called  to  meet  at  the  Dwelling  House  of 
Thomas  Dick  at  one  oclock  afternoon  Wednsday  ninth  day  of  June  1762 
acording  to  the  Direction  in  Sd  Warrant 

Thomas  Johnson 
Entered  from  the  Original  Pr  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Meeitnc;  of   Proprieicjrs  June  g    1762 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Proprietie  so  called, 
at  the  Dwelling  house  of  Thomas  Dick  in  Pelham  Inholder  on  \^■edns- 
day  the  ninth  day  of  June  1762  at  One  oclock  afternoon  the  folowing 
Proprietors  personally  appeared  Viz.  Capt  Robert  Lothridge  two 
Rights,  Lieut  John  Stevinson  one — John  Dick  one  Robert  McColough 
one,  Robert  Meklem  one  John  Conky  one,  James  Taft  one,  Daniel 
Gray  one,. Alexander  Turner  one  George  Cowan  one  Thomas  John- 
ston one  George  Patterson  one  John  Clark  two  Patrick  Peebles  three 
Thomas  Dick  two  Moses  Gray  one  John  Peebles  one — 

First  Chosen  Thomas  Dick  Moderator 

Secondly  Chosen  Thomas  Dick  Clerk 

'i'hirdly  Chosen  Thomas  Dick  to  prefer  a  petition  to  the  General 
Court  to  have  the  Proprietors  land  taxed  to  pay  for  land  lost  by  Per- 
ambiilating  the  lines  between  them  Salem  and  Roadtown  or  any  other 
Method  they  shall  think  proper. 

Forthly — Voted  that  this  Meeting  is  ajourned  to  the  tirst  Monday 
in  October  next  at  One  Oclock  afternoon  at  the  house  of  Thomas 
Dick  in  Sd  Pelham 

T'he  above  Vots  were  passed — 

Attest  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Report  of  Committee  Chosen  to  Appraise   the    Land    Lost 
An  appraisment  on  Record  of  a  tract  of  land   that   is  cut  off  the 
several  lots  on  the  North  Range  together  with  number  of  acres  each 
lot  has  lost  in  Said  Rainge 

Alexander  McColoch 

David  Huston 

Patrick  McMillen,  Committee 


6o  HISTORV    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Thk  Sum  of  the  Appraisement  of  the  Same. 

Division  No  Acres  Value 
Per  Acre 

3fl  7  24:32  /0-5-4 

3d  15  i7;20  0-1-4 

Home  Lot  60  24.144  0-2-8 

3d  8  23.119  0-5-4 

3d  17  5-32  o-i-o 

Home  Lot  59  29.63  0-5-4 

2d  31  9.40  0-4-0 

3d  9  I22-0O                         15  acres  too  much- I  More   than  the 

3d  10                                          17       "       "        "       i  records  gives 

2d  34  16.35  0-2-8 

3d  23  1S.50  0-1-4 

3d  24  0.146  o-i-o 

2d  12  17.00  O-I-O 

2d  II  22.00  O-I-O 

2d  10  7.40  0-9-0 

2d  9  12.40  0-5-4 

H.  Lot  18  63-132       0-5-4 

To  this  appraisement  the  Committee  made  solemn  oath  to  its  truth- 
fuhiess  as  follows — 

Hampshire  May  27  A  D  1761 
Then  the  within  named  Alexander  McColoch  David  Huston  Patrick    Mc- 
Millen  all  of  Pelham  within  said  County  Apprising  made  sollem  oath  to  the 
truth   of  the  above   and  within   apprisement   according  to   the  list  therein 
exhibited 

Coram     C.  Phelps  Justice  Peace 
Entered  from  the  Original  Pr  Thomas   Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

According  to  the  SAvorn  statement  of  this  committee  there  was  a 
loss  of  about  431  acres  of  land  in  the  Sixth  Range  in  a  length  of 
nearly  eight  miles  and  the  sworn  value  per  acre  on  the  average  would 
be  about  three  shillings,  sixty  pounds  perhaps,  all  told.  Hardly 
enough  to  pay  for  the  trouble  and  expense  incurred  in  endeavoring  to 
get  a  settlement  during  all  the  years  the  matter  was  agitated. 

The  subscription  to  the  oath  by  the  Committee  appointed  to  appraise 
the  lost  land  is  the  last  entry  on  the  book  until  1767  when  the 
clamor  for  the  lost  land  opened  afresh,  as  will  appear. 

Warrant  for  Proprietors  Meeting  March  16  1767 

Hampshire  s.s.  To  Hugh  Johnson  one  of  the  Proprietors  of  a  tract  of 
land  in  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  Called  the  Lisburn  I'ropriety 
Greeting — 


TH^:     FIRSr    SKiri.KRS.  6 1 

Whereas  Application  hath  been  made  to  me  the  Subscriber  one  of  his 
Majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  above  Sd  by  Seven  of  the 
Proprietors  of  the  land  above  mentioned  for  a  Warrant  to  Call  a  Meeting  of 
Sd  Proprietors  as  soon  as  may  be  for  the  purposes  hereafter  to  be  mentioned 
—These  are  therefore  in  his  Majestys  name  to  require  you  forthwith  to 
notifie  the  above  named  Proprietors  to  meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Thomas 
Dick  Inholder  in  Sd  Pelham  on  Monday  the  sixteenth  day  of  March  next  at 
ten  oclock  in  the  forenoon  then  and  there  after  a  Moderator  chosen  to  act  on 
the  following  articles  viz  to  Make  Choice  of  such  officers  as  they  shall  find 
needful. 

Secondly  To  agree  on  Method  for  calling  meetings  of  the  Proprietors  for 
the  future 

Thirdly  To  Enquire  what  became  of  the  petition  that  was  sent  to  the 
General  Court  to  get  money  laid  on  to  pay  those  that  lost  land  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Town  of  Pelham 

Forthly  To  Agree  on  some  method  to  recompense  those  that  lost  land  as 
aforesaid 

Fifthly  To  make  provision  for  the  payment  of  those  that  have  done  service 
for  the  Property 

Sixthly  To  see  if  the  Proprietors  will  agree  to  sell  what  Common  land 
•  they  have  and  what  method  they  will  proceed  in  to  do  it  if  so. 

Hearof  fail  not  but  have  you  this  warrant  at  the  place  when  and  time  when 
this  meeting  is  set  as  within  with  return  of  your  doing  thereon. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Hadley  the  nineteenth  day  of  February 
Anno  Dom  1767  and  seventh  year  of  the  Kings  Reighn 

Ebenzeer  Porter  Jus  Peace. 
Entered  from  the  Original  l)y  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk. 

Pelham  March  i6th  1767  I]y  Virtue  of  the  within  Warrant  I  have  notified 
the  Proprietors  of  the  within  Mentioned  Property  by  a  notification  set  up  to 
meet  at  time  and  place  within  mentioned 

HucH  Johnson 
Entered  from  the  Original  Thomas  Dick  I^roprietors  Clerk 

Proprietors  Meeting  March   16  1767 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  so 
called  at  the  Dwelling  House  of  Thomas  Dick  in  Pelham  on  Monday 
the  sixteenth  day  of  March  1767 

Chosen  Hugh  Johnston  Moderator — 

Secondly  Chosen  George  Patteson  Thomas  Dick  and  Hugh  John- 
son to  be  a  Committee  to  Call  Meetings  for  the  future 

Thirdly  Voted  that  the  said  meetings  shall  be  warned  by  setting 
notifications  in  some  publick  Place  in  Said  Town  of   Pelham 

Forthly  Voted  that  Joseph  Hawley  Esq  shall  be  consulted  to  see 
how  we  shall  conduct  ourselves  in  Selling  the  Roads  and  other 
Common  Lands 


62  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Fiftly,  Voted,  to  Thomas  Dick  for  money  laid  out  for  Proprietors 
and  for  service  done  them  twelve  pounds  Lawful  money — 

Sixthly  Voted  to  Alexander  McCulough  for  Service  done  twelve 
shillings 

Seventhly  Voted  to  John  Gray  for  service  done  four  shillings — 

Eighthly  Voted  to  the  heirs  of  David  Huston,  Deceased,  twelve 
shillings — 

Ninthly  Voted  to  Patrick  Peebles  one  pound  twelve  shillings  and 
four  pence 

Tenthly  Voted  to  Hugh  Johnston  one  shilling  and  four  pence 

Eleventhly  Voted  to  adjourn  said  Meeting  to  the  tirst  Monday  in 
April  next  to  one  of  the  Clock  afternoon  to  meet  at  the  Dwelling 
House  of  Thomas  Dick  Inholder  in  Pelham  above  said 

HuoH  JoHNSiON  Moderator 

The  above  votes  were  passed 

Thomas  Dick   Proprietors  Clerk 

Proprietors  Meetin(;  April  6    1767 

At  a  meeting  on  adjournment  from  Monday  the  Sixteenth  day  of 
March  1767  to  Monday  the  sixth  day  of  April  1767 

First  Chose  John  Gray  Moderator 

Second  Voted  to  bring  Joseph  Hawley  Esq  out  to  our  next  meet- 
ing to  counsel  with  him  about  our  affairs  in  our  present   Dificulty — 

Thirdly  Voted  to  Adjourn  this  Meeting  to  Thursday  the  fourteenth 
day  of  April  currant  to  meet  at  10  oclock  foornoon  at  the  Dwelling 
house  of  Thomas  Dick  in  said  Pelham 

John  Gray  Moderator 

The  above  votes  were  passed  attest 

Thomas  I^ick.  Proprietors  Clerk 

Proprietors  Meeitnc;  April   14   1767 

At  a  Meeting  on  adjournment  from  Monday  the  Sixth  day  of  April 
to  tusday  the  fourteenth  day  of  said  month. 

First  Voted  to  rais  money  on  each  one  owning  land  in  the  Propriety 
acording  to  what  he  poses  for  Charges  arisen  on  the  Property 

Second  Voted  to  assess  one  half  peny  per  acer  on  each  Mr  Aber- 
crombees  and  Mr  Grahams  lots  they  live  on  Roads  and  Common 
Land  excepted 


THK    FIRST    SliTTLERS.  63- 

Thirdly  Chosen  Thomas  Dick  Hugh  Johnston  and  Ebenezer  Gray 
Assessors — 

Forthly  Chose  Patrick  Peebles  Colector  to  gather  Said  Rates — 

Fifthly  Voted  to  sell  the  Common  Lands  and  what  Roads  can  be- 
sold  according  to  Law  belonging  to  the  Propriety — 

Sixthly  Chose  John  Dick  George  Patterson  and  Alexander  McCol- 
ough  to  be  Committes  to  sell  the  Common  Land  and  Roads  and  to 
give  titles. 

Seventhly  Voted  to  Adjorn  Said  meeting  to  the  general  election 
day  it  being  the  27  day  of  May  next  at  ten  oclock  in  the  foornoon  at 
the  Dwilling  House  of  Thomas  Dick  in  said  Pelham 

John  Gray  Moderator 

'["he  above  votes  were  passed 

Attest  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Proprietors  Meetino  May  27    1767 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  so  called 
on  adjornment  from  tusday  the  fourteenth  day  of  April  1767  to  May 
twenty  seventh  next  folowing  then  on  said  day. 

Chose  Hugh  Johnston  Moderator  for  said  meeting 

Voted  to  adjourn  said  meeting  to  tusday  the  eight  day  of  Septem- 
ber next  folowing  at  ten  oclock  forenoon  at  the  Dwelling  house  of" 
Thomas  Dick  in  Sd  Pelham 

HucH   loHNsioN   Moderator 

The  above  votes  were  pased 

Attest  Thomas   Dick    Proprietors  Clerk 

Proprietors  Meetini;  Sepiembkr  8    1767 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  so  called 
on  adjornment  from  May  27  1767  to  tusday  the  eight  day  of  Septem- 
ber folowing  then  meet 

First  Voted  to  recall  a  vote  Voted  April  the  14th  1767  wherein 
they  voted  to  assess  one  half  penny  per  acre  on  each  acre  of  land  to 
pay  charges  on  said  Propriety — 

Second  Voted  to  assess  on  each  acer  of  land  belonging  to  the 
Propriety  three  farthings  pr  acer  to  pay  charges  arisen  on  the  Prop- 
erty except  what  has  been  laid  out  by  the  Proprietors  for  Publick 
uses — 


64  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Thirdly  Voted  to  adjoin  said  meeting  to  Tusday  the  twenty  ninth 
day  of  September  current  to  four  oclock  afternoon  to  meet  at  the 
Dwelling  house  of  Thomas  Dick  in  Pelham  Inholder 

Hu(;h  Johnston  Moderator 
The  above  votes  were  pased 

Attest  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Wakkaxt  for  Proprietors  Meeting  August  21   1767 

Hampshire  ss.  To  Thomas  Dick  clerk  of  the  l^roprietors  of  Town  of 
Pelham  &  County  of  Hampshire  Greeting. 

These  are  therefore  in  his  Majestys  name  to  will  and  require  you  forthwith 
to  warn  the  Proprietors  of  Said  Town  known  by  the  name  of  Lisburn  Ih'op- 
riety  to  meet  at  the  hous  of  Said  Dick  on  fryday  25th  of  Agust  next  at  one 
of  the  clock  afternoon  on  consideration  of  the  folowing  purposes  &  hereafter 
Mentioned  &  after  a  Moderator  Chosen  to  act  on  the  folowing 

I  first  to  Consider  what  to  do  in  withstanding  Sd  Dick  in  the  Common 
court  of  Common  Pleas  in  Said  County  on  the  last  tusday  of  Agust  next 

2ly  If  they  do  they  are  to  nominat  a  man  for  Said  business 

3ly  If  they  do  not  chuse  to  stand  the  law  they  are  to  consider  what  method 
to  decide  the  (jievances  of  said  Dick  and  others  complaining  in  the  same 
cause  of  Said  Dick 

Hereof  fail  notand  make  return  sometime  before  said  meeting  to  one  of 
us  the  subscribers  as  witness  our  hand  and  seal  31st  of  July  Anno  Domini 
1767  and  in  the  seventh  vear  of  his  Majestys  Reign 

Entered  from  the  (Original  Pr  Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Notification. 

Pursuant  to  Warrant  under  the  hands  and  seal  of  Hugh  Johnston  and 
George  Patterson  Committee  of  the  Proprietors  in  Pelham  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Lisburn  Propriety  to  me  directed  I  hereby  warn  and  notify 
said  Proprietors  to  meet  on  Friday  the  25th  day  of  Agust  currant  at  one  of 
the  Clock  afternoon  at  my  Dwelling  house  in  said  Pelham  and  after  a 
Moderator  chosen 

First  to  Consider  what  to  do  in  withstanding  me  in  the  Common  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  to  be  holden  at  Springfield  the  last  day  of  Agust  current 

Secondly  If  they  do  they  are  to  nominate  a  man  for  said  business 

Thirdly  If  they  do  not  chuse  to  stand  the  law  they  are  to  consider  what 
method  to  decide  the  grievance  of  I  and  others  complaining  in  the  same 
•  cause  that  I  do 

Dated  at  Pelham  this  first  day  of  Agust  Anno  Domini  1767 

Thomas  Dick   Proprietors  Clerk 


the  first  settlers.  65 

Meeitni;  of  Proprietors  August  21.    1767 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  so  called 
at  the  House  of  Thomas  Dick  in  Pelham  Inholder  on  Friday  the  2 1 
day  of  xA-gust  1767  at  one  of  the  Clock  Afternoon 

ist  Chosen  Hugh  Johnston  Moderator 

2ly  Voted  to  adjorn  said  Meeting  to  four  of  the  Clock  afternoon 
of  said  day 

3ly  Voted  that  they  will  not  stand  me  in  the  Law  in  a  case  wherein 
I  sue  for  money  laid  out  and  service  done  for  them  to  be  heard  and 
tried  at  the  court  of  Common  pleas  to  be  holden  on  tusday  the  25th 
day  of  Agust  current  at  Springfield  in  this  County  of   Hampshire 

4ly  Voted  that  they  will  not  stand  me  in  the  Law  in  another  case 
wherein  I  have  sued  the  Proprietors  a  division  of  the  third  division 
of  lots  in  Sd   Pelham 

5ly  Voted  that  the  meeting  is  adjorned  to  tusday  the  eighth  clay  of 
September  Current  at  one  of  the  (Jlock  afternoon  at  this  place 

Hugh  Johnston  Moderator 

The  above  votes  were  passed 

Thomas  Dick  Proprietors  Clerk 

Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  Sept  8    1767 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Lisburn  Propriety  on', 
adjornment  from  Fryday  the  21st  day  of  Agust  1767  to  tusday  the 
Eight  day  of  Sept  next  then  met  on  Said  day  and  adjourned  the 
meeting  to  tusday  the  29th  of  Said  month  to  five  oclock  afternoon. 

Hugh  Johnston  Moderator 
The  above  vote  was  passed 

Thomas   Dick   Proprietors  Clerk. 

The  above  is  the  last  entry  in  the  Proprietors  Record  Book,, 
leaving  one  half  of  the  book  blank  waiting  for  the  record  of  the 
adjourned  meeting  which  was  to  be  held  on  the  2gth  of  September, 
but  no  record  is  found  here  or  elsewhere  and  the  doings  of  the  Lisburn 
Propriety  at  the  Dwelling  House  of  Thomas  Dick  were  ended  and 
forever.  How  they  settled  the  lost  land  trouble,  or  how  they  con- 
cluded a  settlement  with  Thomas  Dick  after  voting  "  not  to  stand 
him  in  the  law  "  cannot  be  stated  for  lack  of  data. 

\Miy   the   meetings    of  the    Proprietors   were   excluded    from    the 


«66  HIS'lORY    OF    PKI.HAM,    MASS. 

meeting  house  and  were  held  at  the  tavern  of  the  renowned  Thomas 
Dick  does  not  appear.  Why  the  business  of  the  Propriety  should 
remain  dormant  from  1746  until  1760,  then  for  two  years  be  pressing, 
— then  no  record  of  action  for  five  years,  and  to  close  abruptly 
after  a  short  campaign  of  a  few  months  in  1767,  with  Thomas  Dick 
filling  nearly  all  the  offices  and  the  active  campaigner  for  the  Propri- 
etors,— with  several  suits  at  law  against  his  fellow  Proprietors, 
and  the  record  to  end  with  the  suits  unsettled  and  the  "  Lost  Land  " 
claim  unsatisfied  we  would  be  pleased  to  give  information  upon,  but 
must  leave  them  in  the  unsatisfactory  manner  the  record  leaves  all 
these   matters. 

We  have  copied  everything  in  this  first  Record  Iiook  except  the 
monotonous  and  hardly  intelligible  descriptions  of  the  183  parcels  of 
land  distributed  to  the  proprietors  in  three  separate  divisions  by  lot. 
It  is  easy  to  see  how  there  might  be  uncertainty  and  trouble  concern- 
ing the  lands,  not  only  in  the  north  or  sixth  range  but  all  over  the 
town. 

There  were  five  range  roads  that  were  reserved  in  the  distribution 
of  the  lands  and  when  they  were  not  built  the  land  was  allowed  to 
those  whose  lands  the  roads  crossed,  or  from  whose  lands  the  two 
rods  in  width  was  reser\'ed,  either  by  sale  or  by  exchange,  which 
must  have  been  liable  to  tangle  matters.  To  this  may  added  the  great 
liabilitv  to  inaccuracies  in  the  survey  of  such  a  large  and  uneven  tract 
in  the  short  space  of  time  allowed  for  the  work.  The  Surveyor, 
William  Young,  submitted  apian  of  the  first  division  of  61  lots  in 
April  1739  which  was  accepted,  a  copy  of  which  is  appended.  Then 
he  submitted  another  plan  later  in  the  same  year  which  included  the 
first  second  and  third  divisions.  A  copy  of  this  plan  is  also  included 
here.  In  this  last  plan,  the  surveyor  places  first  division  numbers  7 
.and  8,  150  to  200  rods  farther  east  than  in  the  first  plan.  No.  6  and 
14  of  first  division  are  moved  East  the  same  distance  in  the  second 
plan.  First  division  No.  20  is  placed  in  Ranges  3  and  4,  instead  of 
in  4  and  5  in  the  first  plan.  P'irst  Division  No  56  is  in  Ranges  2  & 
3  in  the  Second  Plan  and  wholly  in  Range  3  by  the  first  plan.  No 
58  and  59  of  First  division  are  also  moved  east  the  wiiole  width  of 
the  lots  in  the  second  plan.  Surveyor  Young  makes  the  entire  width 
•of  the  town  1075  rods  and  reports  the  width  of  each  of  the  six  ranges 
183.33  rods.  This  gives  a  width  for  the  town  of  11 00  rods  instead 
of  1075  '^s  recorded,  and  a  width  for  each  range  of  179^  rods,      'i'he 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  67 

restored  copy  of  the  second  plot  or  plan  containing  ist  2d  and  3d 
divisions  or  lots  we  do  not  claim  as  perfect  in  all  respects  as  the  plot 
in  the  old  record  book  has  been  thumbed  so  much  by  so  many  people 
in  the  156  years  since  it  was  made  a  part  of  the  record  as  to  be 
nearly  obliterated.  In  regard  to  location  of  many  of  the  small  lots  of 
the  2d  and  3d  divisions  the  lines  are  completely  effaced.  We  sub- 
mit it  for  what  it  is,  without  vouching  for  absolute  reliability  in  the 
reproduction,  but  hope  it  may  be  of  interest  in  tracing  the  location 
of  the  three  divisions  of  land  to  each  proprietor. 

It  is  well  to  remember  that  while  the  "  Standard  was  forty  acres  " 
in  the  second  and  third  or  final  division  many  of  the  lots  in  these 
two  divisions  contain  over  100  acres.  The  best  lands  were  selected 
in  the  first  division  for  home  lots  and  they  averaged  about  100  acres 
each  while  in  the  second  and  third  divisions  the  poorer  land  was 
measured  into  lots  at  a  standard  of  40  acres  to  each  man,  and  the 
surveyor  and  committee  put  in  quantity  to  make  up  what  was  lacking 
in  quality.  This  will  explain  the  phrase  "Quantity  for  Quality"  which 
occurs  in  the  discription  of  each  lot  in  the  several  divisions. 

It  was  deemed  advisable  to  continue  with  the  records  of  the  Pro- 
prietors book  until  the  record  closed,  and  then  take  up  the  records 
of  the  town  under  the  Act  of  Incorporation  in  1743.  As  there  was 
a  town  record  and  a  proprietors  record  kept  for  some  years,  and  they 
cannot  be  as  intelligently  interpreted  together  as  if  given  separately. 

Before  entering  upon  the  history  of  the  town  as  found  in  the 
records  following  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  we  offer  an  interesting 
matter  of  history  as  a  sandwich  between  the  Proprietors  Records 
and  the  Town  Records. 


68  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM.    MASS. 


THE    TOKEN, 

Used  by  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  of  Pclhain. 


The  Scotch  Presbyterians  who  settled  the  town  of  Pelham  brought 
with  them  all  the  stern  orthodoxy  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Scotland.  They  insisted  for  years  upon  a  rigid  inquiry  and  investi- 
gation into  the  antecedants  of  all  who  applied  for  admission  as 
partners  or  settlers  w-ithin  their  borders  and  for  many  years  required 
that  those  who  came  "should  be  such  as  were  Inhabitants  of  the  King- 
dom of  Ireland,  or  their  Decendants,  being  Protestants,  and  none  to  be 
admitted  but  such  as  bring  good  and  undeniable  credentials  or  certif- 
icates of  their  being  persons  of  good  conversation  and  of  the  Pres- 
byterian persuasion  as  used  in  the  Church  of  Scotland  and  conform 
to  ye  Decepline  thereof."  They  adhered  to  the  creed,  the  doctrines 
and  the  government,  and  discipline  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church 
to  the  letter,  and  brought  with  them  all  the  church  customs  and 
practices  that  were  prevalent  in  Scotland,  and  among  the  Scotch  who 
had  made  their  homes  in  the  North  of  Ireland  for  many  years  previous 
to  coming  to  Massachusetts.  There  had  been  no  falling  away  from 
the  true  faith  or  the  observances  of  the  church, — but  on  the  contrary 
there  was  the  same  rigid  observance  and  requirement,  the  same  faith- 
ful performance  of  all  and  every  rule  of  church  government  as  was 
required  in  the  old  country. 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  69 

All  this  being  true  it  is  no  matter  of  surprise  that  they  continued 
to  guard  admission  to  the  town  itself  by  rigid  safe  guards,  and  to  the 
communion  table  by  the  use  of  the  Token, — the  visable  symbol  of 
the  faithful  and  devout  communicant,  which  was  a  time  honored 
custom  in  Scotland  and  one  they  adhered  to  in  Ireland,  and  one  they 
did  not  forget  in  their  new  home. 

The  use  of  the  Token  is  of  ancient  origin  and  they  have  been 
employed  for  many  different  purposes.  The  Token  as  used  by  the 
church  dates  back  to  the  Reformation  and  beyond  and  was  employed 
by  the  church  in  Scotland  before  1600  as  is  shown  by  ancient  church 
records.  Many  different  metals  and  substances  have  been  employed; 
lead  or  pewter  being  perhaps  the  more  common,  and  the  shape  and 
style  of  Tokens  much  varied  ;  some  were  oval,  some  round,  others 
square  or  oblong,  and  they  had  various  marks,  words,  mottoes  or 
figures  stamped  upon  them,  and  sometimes  a  date. 

The  term  Tokens  and  tickets  were  substantially  the  same,  and  the 
latter  term  was  often  used  in  referring  to  the  use  of  the  Token. 
Communion  Tokens  is  more  expressive  of  the  purpose  for  which  they 
were  used,  or  better  still,  Tokens  of  admission  to  the  Lord's  Table. 
In  Scotland  on  the  Saturday  before  the  communion,  or  on  the  day  of 
examination,  the  minister  in  person,  the  clerk,  or  some  of  the  elders 
specially  appointed  for  the  work,  distributed  the  Tokens  to  all  present 
who  were  entitled  to  them,  and  none  were  admitted  to  the  communion 
table  on  the  Sunday  following  except  such  as  had  a  Token. 

In  some  instances  the  church  doors  were  guarded  and  none  were 
admitted  save  those  who  had  a  Token  of  lead  as  a  guarantee  of  their 
right  of  entrance. 

It  was  considered  disreputable  for  members  to  absent  themselves 
from  the  Lord's  Table,  and  members  who  were  unable  to  be  present 
on  the  Saturday  previous,  when  the  Tokens  were  distributed,  would 
sometimes  try  to  obtain  one  through  some  friend  who  was  present  at 
the  distribution,  or  try  to  pass  with  another's  ticket  or  Token.  If  the 
deception  became  known  the  offender  was  punished.  Sometimes 
counterfeit  tokens,  or  pieces  of  money  were  dropped  in  the  hand  of 
the  minister  or  elder  when  collecting  the  Tokens  at  the  close  of  the 
service.  Persons  detected  in  such  sacreligious  deception  were  pun- 
ished by  the  church  in  a  manner  that  prevented  a  repetition  of  the 
offence. 

6 


^6  hiSTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

It  was  this  time  honored  custom  that  the  settlers  of  Pelham 
brought  with  them  and  which  was  observed  for  a  long  time  probably 
as  long  as  the  strict  Presbyterian  creed  and  discipline  were  adhered 
to,  or  until  the  change  to  Congregational  form  of  church  government. 
The  Tokens  used  by  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  of  Pelham  were  made 
of  lead,  of  the  size  in  the  engraving,  which  was  made  from  a  photo- 
graph of  real  genuine  Tokens  used  at  Pelham.  They  were  distributed 
at  the  preparatory  lecture,  before  the  day  of  communion,  and  they 
were  collected  at  the  close  of  the  communion  service  and  kept  in  a 
bag  made  for  their  reception.  That  they  were  much  used  is  indicated 
by  the  rounded  corners  and  other  marks  of  use  and  age. 

The  letters  P.  P.  in  relief  upon  the  bits  of  lead  were  understood  to 
stand  for  Pelham  Presbyterian.  They  are  said  to  have  been  used 
wherever  the  Presbyterian  church  was  established  in  the  United 
States.  They  were  in  use  at  Londonderry,  N.  H.  and  llie  device 
adopted  there  was  L.  P.  signifying  Londonderry  Presbyterian  ;  also 
at  Chelsea  and  Sutton.  It  is  also  stated  that  a  church  in  Boston 
used  the  Token  until  recent  years. 

The  Tokens  from  which  the  accompanying  engraving  was  made 
are  a  small  remnant  of  those  used  at  Pelham,  and  are  probably  the 
only  two  in  existence  within  the  town. 

Alice  Morse  Earle  in  her  valuable  book  on  ''  The  Sabbath  in 
Puritan  New  England  "  attributes  the  introduction  of  the  Token  in 
Pelham  to  Stephen  Burroughs.  She  says:  "The  notorious  thief  and 
forger  Rev.  Stephen  Burroughs,  that  remarkable  rogue,  organized  and 
introduced  to  his  parishoners  the  custom  of  giving  during  the  month 
a  metal  check  to  real  worthy  and  truly  virtuous  church  members,  on 
presentation  of  which  check  the  bearer  was  entitled  to  partake  of 
the  communion." 

She  describes  the  Token,  or  "check"  as  she  terms  it  as  follows: 
"Many  of  the  thin  chips  called  Presbyterian  checks  are  still  in 
existence.  They  are  oblong  discs  of  pewter  about  one  inch  and  a 
half  long  bearing  the  initials  P.  P."  Doubtless  Stephen  Burroughs, 
— the  smart  active  boy  of  nineteen  summers  did  many  wicked  things, 
was  a  sacriligious  wretch  perhaps,  but  to  attribute  the  introduction 
of  the  Token  to  the  staid  Presbyterians  of  Pelham,  during  his 
services  as  "  supplyer  "  for  barely  twenty  Sabbaths  in  the  spiing  and 
summer  of  1784  is  highly  presumptuous  and  improbable.  That 
Burroughs  could  "organize  and  introduce"  to  these  Scotch  people 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  71 

any  new  church  custom  while  Rev.  Robert  Abercombie,  a  graduate 
of  Edinburgh  University  and  a  former  pastor  was  still  living  in  the 
town  could  not  be  accepted  as  possible  if  there  was  no  authenticated 
records  of  the  use  of  the  Token  in  the  churches  for  centuries 
previous  to  the  appearance  of  the  wily  Burroughs  in  Pelham,  and 
showing  that  it  was  in  use  in  Scotland  before  the  ancestors  of  the 
people  living  in  Pelham  had  migrated  to  the  north  of  Ireland.  It  is 
much  more  reasonable  to  suppose  these  people  continued  a  custom 
in  use  in  the  Presbyterian  church  to  which  they  belonged  long  before 
they  settled   Pelham. 

We  quote  once  again  from  the  "Sabbath  in  Puritan  New  England" 
to  show  why  the  Tokens  of  the  Pelham  Presbyterians  are  not  common 
in  the  old  town  to-day  :  "A  clergyman  of  the  Pelham  church  gave  to 
many  of  his  friends  these  Presbyterians  checks,  which  he  had  found 
among  the  disused  and  valueless  church  properties  and  the  little 
relics  have  been  carefully  preserved."  This  quotation  is  generally 
accepted  as  substantially  true,  but  does  not  convey  any  good  reason 
why  any  clergyman  going  out  from  his  labors  at  Pelham  should 
assume  that  any  church  property  that  had  come  down  from  the 
time  of  the  first  settlers  in  1738  were  valueless,  because  not  in  use. 
Many  Presbyterians  in  New  England  to-day  may  never  have  seen  or 
even  heard  of  the  conniiunion  Token,  because  the  use  of  it  has  been 
abandoned  save  in  exceptional  instances. 

Robert  Shiells  in  his  "  Story  of  the  Token  "  describes  the  manner 
of  distributing  the  Tokens  in  the  churches  in  Scotland,  at  the  close 
of  Thursday's  services,  and  the  "lifting"  or  gathering  them  in  while 
the  communicants  were  seated  at  the  sacrimental  table.  "  Sometimes 
they  were  distributed  on  Fast  days,  when  the  people  were  dismissed 
and  the  minister  and  elders  stood  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  As  the 
members  filed  past,  those  who  were  in  good  standing  and  worthy  to 
communicate  were  handed  a  small  piece  of  metal  known  as  a 
Token." 

In  some  churches  an  annual  list  was  made  up  of  those  who  were 
to  be  refused  Tokens,  but  they  were  not  those  who  were  really  liable 
to  excommunication.  Of  the  solemnity  and  importance  attached  to 
the  distribution  of  the  Tokens,  Shiells  quotes  the  words  of  Rev. 
George  Gillespie,  minister  of  Strathmiglo,  Scotland,  who  said,  "  He 
never  gave  a  Token  of  admission  to  the  Lord's  supper  without  a 
trembling  hand  ancl  a  throbbing  heart," 


72  HISTORY    OF    IMCLHAM,    MASS. 

The  manufacture  of  the  lead  Tokens  was  easy  and  simple.  They 
were  either  cast  in  a  mould  or  struck  up  with  a  die  in  just  the  same 
manner  coins  were  formerly  made.  The  keeping  up  of  the  needful 
supply  of  Tokens  devolved  upon  the  minister;  and  sometimes  when 
a  new  minister  was  ordained  or  installed  over  a  church  the  mould  in 
which  the  Tokens  were  cast  was  turned  over  to  the  new  pastor. 

In  the  Story  of  the  Token,  already  referred  to  the  author  refers  to 
the  general  use  of  the  Token  in  Scotland  and  gives  many  interesting 
incidents  in  connection  with  their  use.  "In  1590  the  sessions  of 
St.  Andrews  Edenburgh  paid  for  the  Token-moulds  and  2000  Tokens." 
"  At  Galston  in  1634  a  man  had  to  make  public  repentance  and  pay 
a  fine  of  ten  shillings  for  giving  away  his  Token."  "At  Mauchline 
in  177  I  a  young  lad  going  forward  to  his  first  communion,  excited 
and  oblivious  of  minor  matters  handed  the  elder  a  sixpence.  This 
was  a  heinous  offence.  The  boy  was  called  before  the  session,  when 
he  expressed  great  sorrow,  but  this  did  not  save  him  from  being  for- 
mally rebuked  for  his  sacriligious  heedlessness  and  admonished  to  be 
more  careful  in  future." 

In  1727  the  following  entry  occurs  in  the  church  book  of  Ettrick, 
Selkirkshire,  Scotland.  "  The  session  met  to  distribute  Tokens  but 
finding  that  a  horserace  was  to  come  off  before  communion  Sabbath, 
forbade  any  member  to  attend  and  decided  to  hold  over  the  Tokens 
until  after  the  race."  The  collection  of  Tokens  has  become  a  popu- 
lar fad  in  Scotland,  and  in  the  United  States  there  are  collectors 
who  are  engaged  in  gathering  them.  Mr.  John  Reid,  13  Wellmeadow 
Blairgowrie,  Scotland,  is  said  to  have  upwards  of  5000  Tokens  in 
his  collection. 

We  will  close  this  extended  notice  of  the  Token  and  its  use  in 
Scotland  and  in  Pelham  by  what  seems  to  us  a  more  probable  theory 
of  its  introduction  and  use  among  the  Presbyterians  of  Pelham  than 
that  of  Alice  Morse  Earle.  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  has  already 
been  mentioned  in  this  connection  and  it  is  proper  to  state  further 
that  he  was  the  first  settled  minister  of  the  town  of  Pelham.  A 
Scotchman  by  birth  and  education,  he  commenced  his  labors  among 
the  people  of  Pelham  in  1742  and  was  ordained  August  30,  1744. 
The  meeting  house  was  not  completed  at  that  time  and  the  church 
probably  not  fully  organized  in  all  respects  until  then,  so  that  it 
seems  fair  to  suppose  that  Rev.  Mr.  Abercrombie  himself  might  have 
been   the   one   to    decide  what  device  should  be  upon  the  'Poken  for 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  73 

use  in  Pelham  and  see  to  procuring  the  moulds  for  casting  them,  as 
that  duty  was  laid  upon  pastors  by  custom  in  Scotland  as  Mr.  Aber- 
cromlDie  very  well  knew,  and  were  the  records  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  Pelham  accessible  they  would  quite  probably  disclose  the 
circumstances  of  the  adoption  of  the  Token.  To  show  the  standing 
and  acknowledged  ability  of  Mr.  Abercombie  and  his  influence  among 
the  Presbyterians  of  New  England  we  quote  from  Sprague's  Annals  of 
the  American  Pulpit  Vol.  Ill,  page  i6  of  the  Historical  Introduction  : 
"  Notwithstanding  Presbyterianism  has  never  prevailed  extensively 
in  New  England,  it  has  had  a  distinct  and  independent  existence  there 
from  a  very  early  period.  The  French  church  of  Boston,  which  was 
formed  of  Huguenots  in  or  about  the  year  1687  was  the  first  church 
organized  on  a  Presbyterian  basis  ;  but  it  was  continued  no  longer 
than  while  their  public  worship  was  conducted  in  the  French 
language. 

The  first  Presbyterian  organization  in  New  England  of  any  perma- 
nence dated  to  about  the  year  17 18  when  a  large  number  of  Presby- 
terians with  four  ministers  imigrated  to  this  country  from  the  North 
of  Ireland.  For  sometime  in  cases  of  difficulty  the  ministers  and 
elders  were  wont  to  assemble  informally,  and  hold  what  might  be 
called  pro  re  nata  meetings  ;  and  occasionally  when  they  were  unable 
to  reach  a  satisfactory  result,  they  asked  advice  of  the  Synod  of 
Ireland. 

This  state  of  things  continued  till  the  year  1745  when  the  ministers 
resolved  as  preparatory  to  the  step  they  were  about  to  take,  to  observe 
in  connection  with  their  congregations,  the  third  Wednesday  of 
March  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer. 

On  the  i6th  of  April  following  the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Moorhead  of 
Boston,  David  McGregorie  of  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  Robert  Abercrom- 
bie  of  Pelham,  with  Messrs.  James  McKeon,  Alexander  Conkey  and 
James  Hughes,  met  at  Londonderry  and  being  satisfied  as  to  the 
Divine  Warrant,  with  dependence  upon  God  for  counsel  and  assist- 
ance, they,  by  prayer,  constituted  themselves  into  a  Presbyter)^  to 
act,  so  far  as  their  present  circumstances  will  permit  them,  according 
to  Word  of  God  and  the  constitution  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Scotland,  agreeing  to  that  perfect  rule.  This  body  was  called  "The 
Boston  Presbytery  "  and  met  according  to  adjournment  in  that  town 
on  the  13th  of  August,   1745." 


INCORPORATION  OF  THE  TOWN  OF    PELHAM. 

It  was  while  the  Proprietors  of  I.isburn  were  absorbed  with  the 
great  business  of  settling  a  first  minister  that  the  legislative  action 
took  place  under  which  the  people  organized  the  plantation  or  settle- 
ment as  a  town  and  began  their  career  as  the  eleventh  town  organ- 
ization west  of  Worcester  County. 

The  several  acts  of  the  General  Court, — the  call  for  the  first  town 
meeting,  and  the  doings  of  the  meeting  follow. 

The  selection  of  the  name  Pelham  for  the  town  doubtless  came 
from  the  fact  that  Lord  Pelham  was  travelling  in  this  country  at  the 
time.  It  has  been  said  that  Lord  Pelham,  pleased  to  learn  that  a 
town  had  selected  his  name  to  be  placed  in  the  act  of  incorporation, 
signified  his  pleasure  by  sending  from  England  a  bell  for  the  meeting 
house.  If  one  was  sent  it  never  arrived  in  Pelham.  The  reason 
why  the  bell  did  not  reach  its  distination,  it  has  been  said,  was 
caused  by  the  fact  that  no  money  was  forthcoming  to  pay  the  freight 
charges  on  its  arrival  in  Boston,  and  that  after  waiting  in  vain  for 
payment  on  the  freight  bill  the  bell  was  sold  to  the  Old  South 
Church.  If  Lord  Pelham  was  so  kind  and  thoughtful  as  to  order  a 
bell  sent  over  from  England  it  was  very  unfortunate  that  he  did  not 
open  his  purse  and  pay  for  its  free  delivery  in  Ijoston,  if  not  in 
Pelham. 

It  is  doubtful  about  a  bell  being  sent  at  all,  but  as  the  pleasant 
story  has  been  told  many  times  in  connection  with  the  naming  of  the 
town  it  can  do  little  harm  to  give  it  a  place  here.  Unless  there  was 
some  good  and  sufficient  reason,  such  as  the  hope  of  getting  a  bell 
or  some  other  valuable  consideration,  we  fail  to  understand  why  the 
very  pleasant  sounding  name  of  Lisburn  or  New  Lisburn,  first  selected 
for  the  name  of  the  settlement  was  discarded  to  honor  Lord  Pelham. 
No  one,  so  far  as  we  are  advised  has  ever  been  able  to  give  a  reason 
why  these  people  first  gave  the  name  Lisburn  or  New  Lisburn  to 
their  new  settlement  on  the  hills  of  Eastern  Hampshire  so  we  ofifer 
what  seems  to  be  a  fairly  good  supposition,  to  say  the  least.  Down 
on  the  extreme  southern  border  of  County  Antrim  Ireland,  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  Lagan  is  located  the  town  of  Lisburn,  celebrated 
for  its  manufacture  of  damasks  and   fine  linen  goods,   said   to   have 


THE    FIRST    SETTLERS.  7^ 

been  established  there  by  a  settlement  of  Hugeuenots  after  the  Revo- 
cation of  the  Edict  of  Nantes.  Perhaps  some  of  the  settlers  of 
Pelham  came  from  Lisburn  and  suggested  the  name  for  the  new 
plantation.  Certainly  those  people  who  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
17 18,  brought  with  them  the  "little  wheel "  for  spinning  Hax  and 
this  alone  would  indicate  that  they  were  well  acquainted  with  this 
center  of  linefl  manufacture,  if  they  were  not  actual  residents  of  Lis- 
burn. The  wives  and  daughters  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pelham  were 
noted  as  skillful  spinners  of  flax  and  weavers  of  linen. 

Anno  Regne  Regis  Georgie  Seccondo  Decimo  Sexto 

An  act  for  erecting  a  tract  of  Land  Commonly  Called  New  Lisborn  Lying 
in  ye  County  of  Hampshire  into  a  Township  by  ye  Name  of  Peliiam. 

Whereas  there  are  a  Considerable  Number  of  Families  Settled  on  a  tract 
of  Land  Commonly  called  New  Lisburn  Lying  in  the  County  of  Hampshire 
Who  have  Represented  to  this  Court  that  they  labour  under  great  Difficul- 
ties By  reason  of  their  not  being  incorporated  into  a  Township  Be  it  there- 
fore Enacted  by  the  Gov  nr  Council  &  House  of  Representatives  that  the 
Lands  aforesaid  be  and  hereby  are  Erected  into  a  Seperate  and  Distinct 
township  by  the  Name  of  Pelham — the  Bounds  Whereof  to  be  as  Follows 
Viz — Bounding  Easterly  on  a  tract  of  Land  Commonly  Called  Ouabin 
granted  to  a  Number  of  Canada  &  Narragansett  Soldiers  Southerly  on  a 
Lot  of  Equivalent  Land  so  Called  belonging  to  Rev  Mr  Edwards  &  Mrs 
Rebecca  Hauley — Westerly  on  ye  East  Bounds  of  the  Town  of  Hadley  & 
Northerly  partly  on  a  New  Township  Commonly  called  Roadtown  and 
Partly  on  a  New  Township  Commonly  Called  New  .Salem  &  that  ye  Inhab- 
itants on  ye  Land  aforesaid  be  and  hereby  are  vested  with  all  ye  Power 
Priviliges  &  Immunities  Which  ye  Inhabitons  of  other  towns  within  this 
Province  are  or  by  Law  ought  to  be  vested  with — Deer:  28, — 1742 — This 
Bill  having  Been  Read  three  sev  1  times  in  Ye  House  of  Representatives — 
Pasedtobe  Enacted  J  Gushing  Speaker. 

Deer. :  28  :  1742  This  Bill  having  been  read  three  several  times  in  Council 
—  Pased  to  be  Enacted  J  Willard' Sec'ry 

Jan.y  15,  1742     By  the  Governor. — I  consent  to  ye  Enacting  of  this  Bill — 

William  Shirley 
Copy:     Examined  Pr  J  Willard  Sec'ry 

In  Ye  House  of  Representativs  April  i  1743  ordered  that  Mr 
Robert  Peibles  one  of  Ye  Principal  Inhabetans  of  the  New  Town- 
ship Lately  erected  Named  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  be 
&  hereby  is  fully  authorized  &  impowered  upon  due  Publication  or 
Notice  Given  to  Assemble  the   Inhabitons  of  said  Town  to   Choose 


76  HISTORY    OF    PELriAM,    MASS. 

all  town  officers  who  shall  stand  till  ye  anniversary  Meeting  in  March 
Nixt— 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence.  F  Gushing  Speaker 

In  Council  April  ist  1743 — Read  &  Concurid,  J  Willard  Sec'try 

Consented  to    W  Shirly 
Copy  Examined  pr  J  Willard  Sec'ty 

Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay. — Whereas  the  Generall  Court  or 
assembly  of  s'd  Province  by  their  order  of  the  first  of  April  Current 
have  authorized  and  empowered  the  subscriber  hereoff  (upon  due 
notice  or  publication  given)  to  assemble  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  to  choose  all  town  officers 
who  shall  stand  till  the  anniversary  meeting  in  March  next. 

Pursuant  thereto  these  are  therfore  to  Warn  and  Notifie  the  free- 
holders and  other  inhabitants  of  s'd  town  qualified  by  law  to  vote  in 
Town  affairs  that  they  assemble  themselves  at  the  Meeting  House  in 
s'd  Pelham  on  Tuesday  the  Nineteenth  day  of  April  current  at  nine 
of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon  for  the  choosing  Town  officers  for  s'd 
town  as  aforesaid. 

Dated  at  Pelham   this  ninth  day  of  April  in  the   sixteenth  year  of 
His  Majestys  Reighn 
Annoy  Dom'ni  1743  Robert  Peibols 

Pelham  April  9  1743 
Then  I   Posted  up  a  Notification  for  colling  a  Town   Meeting  in 
Pelham  by  fixing  it  on  the  side  of  the  Meeting  House  (by  the  door) 
in  s'd  Pelham  of  the  which  Notification  the  within  is  a  true  copy. 

As  Attest  Robert  Peibols. 

The  meeting  to  organize  under  the  act  of  incorporation  was  held 
according  to  the  above  notification.  The  act  incorporating  the  town 
was  passed  by  the  General  Court  on  the  28  of  Dec  1752,  and  became 
a  law  by  the  addition  of  the  Governor's  Signature  on  the  15th  of 
January  1743.  At  that  time  there  were  only  the  towns  of  Spring- 
field, Northampton,  Hadley,  Hatfield,  Northfield,  Sunderland,  lirim- 
field.  Westfield,  Sheffield  and  Stockbridge  in  the  state  west  of  Wor- 
cester County  that  were  incorporated,  Pelham   making  the  eleventh. 


TOWN  MEETING  RECORDS 

From  1743  to  1763- 


Petition  to  General  Court  to  Legalize  Acts  of  Toicn  Officers  in  1753. — 
Invoices  Given  In  for  Taxation  in  ij6o. — T/ie  Town  Presented 
at  Court  in  1762  for  "  Voluntarily  Omitting  and  Neglecting  to 
Provide  Themselves  with  a  Learned  and  Able  Orthodox  Minis- 
ter.— Illegal  Killing  of  Deer  in  IJ63,  and  Penalty  Therefor. 


Record  of  First  Town  Meeting  Under  the  Act   of    Incorpo- 
ration, Held  xA,pril   ig,   1743. 

Officers  chosen  to  stand  to  ye  anniversary  meeting  in  March,  1744: 

Selectmen — Alexander  Conky,  Robert  Pebils,  John  Alexander, 
John  Gray,  Robert  Lotheridge. 

Town  Clerk — William  Gray. 

Town  Treasurer — John  Stinson. 

Surveyors — James  Taylor,  John  Conkey,  John  Johnson,  Ephriam 
Cowan. 

Tythingmen — Andrew  Maklem,  James  ]McConel. 

Constables — George  Cowan,  James  Hood. 

Fence  Viewers — Thomas  Hamilton,  Alexander  Tower. 

Hogreeves — William  Conky,  John  Blair. 

Assessors — William  Gray,  Samuel  Gray,  &  William  Croset. 

Officers  to  Prosecute  ye  Law  Respecting  Killing  Deer — Robert 
Maklem,  John  Lucore. 

Officers  to  Prosecute  ye  Law  about  Burning  of  Woods — John  Ham- 
ilton, Hugh  Gray. 

At  a  Leguall  town  meeting  in  Pelham  April  ye  19th,  1743  John 
Stoddard  Esq'r  Being  first  Chosen  Moderator  the  town  Made  choice 
of  ye  Several  Persons  above  Named  to  ye  Several  offices  to  Which 
Their  Names  are  Respectively  Affixed. 

test  John  Stoddard,  Moderator. 

Pelham  April  ye  19  1743. 
7 


78  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Then  all  ye  Persons  Named  in  ye  above  List  took  ye  oaths  to  their 
Respective  offices  Belonging  Except  the  Selectmen  and  John  Lucore 
Cor'"  John  Stoddard  Pac""  Justice. 

The  town  was  now  fully  organized  under  the  act  of  incorporation 
and  a  full  board  of  town  officers  elected.  The  meeting  house  was 
far  enough  advanced  towards  completion  so  that  it  might  be,  and  in 
fact  was  in  use  for  preaching  the  gospel,  and  now  the  business  which 
the  settlers  placed  before  the  almost  everything  else  was  in  order, 
viz. — 

The  Settling  of  the  First  Minister. 

Matthew  Gray  had  been  dispatched  to  Londonderry,  N.  H.  with  a 
call  to  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  to  settle  in  Pelham,  but  for  some  unexplained 
reason  the  call  was  not  accepted  and  the  people  were  obliged  to  look 
farther. 

It  was  the  first  of  September,  1741  that  Matthew  Gray  bore  the 
call  to  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  and  not  until  May  11,  1742  that  the  vote 
was  taken  "  to  interceed  with  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  be  our  sup- 
player  as  far  as  he  can  for  this  summer."  The  peculiar  form  of  the 
vote  passed  would  indicate  that  I\Ir.  Abercrombie  had  some  engage- 
ments which  would  prevent  his  preaching  at  Pelham  continuously,  but 
they  hoped  by  judicious  intercession  he  might  be  induced  to  preach 
for  them  a  portion  of  the  time.  Owing  to  the  importance  of  the  busi- 
ness of  settling  the  first  minister  in  the  town  and  the  singularly  inter- 
esting history  of  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  over  the 
church  at  Pelham,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  place  all  matters 
pertaining  to  his  settlement,  pastorate  and  dismissal,  as  well  as  inci- 
dents of  his  life  in  the  town  after  his  retirement  from  the  ministry,  in 
a  separate  chapter,  where  all  such  matters  of  fact  and  record  could 
be  perused  more  in  detail,  and  separate  from  other  ordinary  town 
business  and  history.  Space  has  been  set  apart  for  that  purpose  and 
the  reader  is  referred  to  it. 

Annual  Town  Meeting,  March  5,   1743-4. 

First  Was  Chosen  John  Stinson  Moderator. 

Selectmen — Ephriam  Cowan,  John  Stinson,  George  Cowan,  Mat- 
thew Gray  and  John  Clark. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  79 

Town  Clerk — William  Gray. 

Assessors — James  Conky,  John  Hamilton,  Alexander  Tower, 

Constables — John  Johnson,  Thomas  Hamilton. 

Town  Treasurer — John  Stinson. 

Surveyors  of  High  Ways — Patrick  Pebels,  Alexander  Tower,  Wil- 
liam Conky,  Robert  Lotheridge. 

Tything  men — Thomas  Hamilton,  James  Alexander. 

Fence  Viewers — John  Conky  &  Samuel  Gray. 

Hog  Reveevs — Hugh  Gray  &  Robert  Maklem. 

Committee  to  Run  Lines  with  Neighboring  Towns — Robert  Loth- 
eridge, Sam"  Gray,  James  Alexander. 

Ye  meeting  is  adjourned  for  two  hours  to  swear  ye  Officers  and  to 
Dismiss  one  Constable  and  Chuse  another. 

John  Stinson,   Moderator. 

Meeting  May  26,   1743. 

Voted    Col  Timothy  Dwight  is  chosen  Moderator. 

Voted  there  be  a  Committee  Chosen  to  Provide  Sermon  till  such 
Times  as  We  can  orderly  Proceed  to  ye  Calling  of  a  Minister. 

Voted  y't  John  Stinson,  John  Johnson  and  James  Conky  be  a 
Committee  to  Provide  Sermon. 

Voted  that  said  com'ttee  is  to  Invite  such  Person  or  Persons  as 
they  think  Proper  to  be  Improved  m  Said  Service. 

Voted  that  there  be  a  Committee  Chosen  to  Invite  three  ordained 
Neighboring  Ministers  to  Keep  a  Day  of  fasting  and  Prayer  With  us 
and  to  consult  With  ye  same  whome  we  Shall  Call  to  be  our  Minister. 

Voted  that  Ephriam  Cowan,  Samuel  Gray  &  Robert  Pebels  be  a 
Committee  to  invite  three  Ministers  to  Keep  a  Day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  with  us. 

Voted  y't  there  Be  a  Committee  Chosen  to  Provide  Glass  to  Gleas 
the  Meeting  House  and  to  Build  a  Pulpit  and  to  finish  ye  under  Pin- 
ning of  ye  Meeting  house  at  ye  Charge  of  ye  town  and  said  \\'ork  to 
be  Done  Before  Winter. 

Voted  y't  ye  select  Men  to  Wite  Robert  Pebels,  Alexander  Conky, 
John  Alexander,  John  Gray  &  Robert  Lotheridge  Be  a  Committee  to 
Provide  ye  Glass  and  Glasing  of  ye  Meeting  house  and  to  Build  a 
Pulpit  &  under  Pine  y'e  s'*  House  at  y'e  charge  of  the  'Pown. 

Voted  that  y'e  aforesaid  Committee  for  Bulding  a  Pulpit  is  to 
Buld  a  Pulpit  for  Dignitee  Like  unto  haddley  third  Precinct. 


So  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Voted  that  there  be  y'e  Sume  of  Eighty  four  Pounds  old  tenor 
Expended  on  High  Ways  this  year  to  Be  Rased  on  y'e  town  Each 
man  an  Inhabitant  in  this  is  to  have  Liberty  to  Do  three  Days  Work 
at  High  Ways  this  year  y"t  May  be  Levied  by  a  Reat  Made  By  y'e 
Pols  &  Estates. 

Voted  that  there  be  allowed  to  each  Man  Eight  Shillings  per  Day 
&  a  team  of  four  Cattle  Eight  Shillings  per  Day  for  a  full  Day  Work. 

Voted  that  Each  Surveyor  of  High  Ways  is  to  take  Notice  how 
Much  any  Person  Conies  Short  Eather  by  Himself  or  his  tame  of 
Doing  a  Reasonable  Days  work  &  to  Note  down  in  his  Count  how 
much  any  Person  so  falls  Short  &:  that  such  Person  Be  abated  so 
much  of  the  aforesaid  Prices. 

Voted  y't  y'e  select  Men  are  Directed  to  Provide  Sutable  Cloath 
&  have  it  Made  up  to  Covire  Coffins  \A'ith  in  Buring  of  our  Dead  at 
the  charge  of  y'e  town. 

Voted  y't  y'e  Committee  appointed  to  Invite  three  of  Neighboring 
Ordained  Ministers  to  assist  us  at  a  Day  of  fasting  and  Prayer  to 
Seek  to  God  for  Direction  in  y'e  Choice  of  a  Minister  &:  to  Desire  ye 
Ministers  to  Attend  on  ye  Last  tusday  of  June  Nixt  at  ye  Meeting 
house  abovesaid — all  y'e  above  s'  Articles  \^'ere  Voted  Affirmatively 
— test 

Timothy  Dwight  Moderator. 

There  seems  to  have  been  some  hitch  in  the  committee  chosen  to 
"  invite  the  three  neighboring  ordained  ministers"  to  assist  in  the 
proposed  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  and  a  warrant  was  issued  for  a 
town  meeting,  containing  the  following  articles  only. 

Warrant. 

First  to  See  if  or  Not  they  will  adjourn  ye  fast  Day  that  Was  appointed— 
till  longer  time. 

2'-''  to  See  if  or  Not  they  will  ye  Committee  appointed  for  that  Purpose  to 
appoint  ye  Day. 

Hereof  fail  not  etc — 

AIeetixo   June  21,   1743. 

At  a  Leguall  town  In  Pelham  June  ye  21st  1743. — at  said  meeting 
John  Stinson  was  Chosen  Moderator. 

Voted  y't  ye  Day  appointed  in  Our  Meeting  May  ye  26th  for  fast- 
ing &  Prayer  is  adjourned  to  Longer  time. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  8 1 

Voted  that  ye  Committee  appointed  for  Inviting  INIinisters  to  Keep 
ye  fast  that  they  are  to  appoint  ye  time  when  they  Can  have  it  Done 
With  the  Best  C'onveney 

John  Stinsox  Moderator. 

Annual  Meeting  March  4,   1744-5 

Then  meet  on  said  Day  and  was  Chosen  as  Follows 

Matthew  Gray  Moderator 

Selectmen. — Alexander  Conky,  Robert  Pebels.  John  Gray,  James 
McCulloch,  Thos  Dick. 

Town  Clerk.— William  Gray 

Constables. — Alexander  McCulloch  &  James  Gilmore. 

Assessors. — William  Gray,  William  Crossett,  Thos  Dick. 

Town  Treasurer. — James  Conky 

Surveyors  of  High  Ways. — John  Clark,  James  Allexander,  Robert 
Meklem,  Nathaniel  Gray,  John  Hamilton,  John  Stinson. 

Tything  men. — William  Conky  &  John  Blaire 

Hog  Rives. — James  Taylor  &  Samuel  Gray. 

Meeting  adjourned  to  April  9th  1745  when  a  number  of  roads  were 
consented  to  by  owners  of  lands  through  which  they  passed  and 
among  them  it  was  "  Voted  that  ye  Road  laid  out  From  ye  North 
East  Corner  of  Mr  Abercrombies  lot  to  ye  Meeting  house  as  it  is 
marked     -     -     -     Consent  to  ye  above  vote 

R.  Abercrombie — " 

"Voted  that  ye  Road  Laid  out  From  Hadley  line  to  ye  south  end 
of  Robert  Lotheridge'  Barn  as  it  is  Marked  &  from  thence  By  ye 
south  end  of  s'''  Lotheridges  Rey  field  as  ye  Road  Now  Goes  &  so  to 
ye  Range  Road  Betwixt  s"'  Lotheridges  &  Ephriam  Cowan,  said  Road 
is -to  be  two  Rods  in  width. — 

Consented  to  by  Andrew  Meklem,  James  Conky,  John  Crawford, 
Robert  Lotheridge." 

The  above  record  must  have  been  that  of  the  laying  out  of  the 
present  road  from  Amherst  line  east  to  Home  lot  No.  29,  drawn  by 
Robert  Lotheridge,  or  about  two  miles  from  Amherst  line.  It  then 
ran  north  until  it  joined  the  Second  Range  road  between  Lot  No.  29 
and  Lot  No.  42,  the  latter  owned  by  Ephriam  Cowan.  The  second 
range  road  is  the  one  that  ran  due  east,  up  over  the  hill,  past  the 
Collins  Brailey  farm  and  came  out  at  the  Cross  road  about  half  a 


S2  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

mile  south  of  Pelham  center,  and  thence  to  the  east  line  of  the  town. 
The  Collins  Brailey  farm  is  now  owned  by  Stephen  Rhoads. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  first  bridle  path  to  East  Hadley  followed 
the  middle  range  as  far  as  possible  down  through  the  Valley  and 
over  the  side  of  the  mountain  to  Amherst,  keeping  on  the  north  side 
of  what  is  now  known  as  Amethyst  Brook. 

Some  articles  from  Warrant  for  a  town  meeting  dated  April  26, 
1744: 

"  First  to  see  How  Many  Days  Works  Each  Pole  will  Work  at  y"e  High- 
ways this  Present  year. 

2'y     To  see  what  the  Town  will  do  concerning  a  scole  for  this  Present  year 

3'y  To  See  if  ye  town  Will  alowe  anything  for  Killing  Rattle  Snaks  for 
Two  Months  thats  April  &  May. 

4'-''  To  see  if  y"e  town  Will  alow  ye  Constables  to  post  up  notifications  to 
Warn  town  Meetings  For  y'e  futter — 

5'''  To  See  if  y'e  town  Will  Clean  ye  Buring  ground  &  fence  y'e  Same  & 
Clean  about  the  Meeting  house. 

Meeting  April  36,   1744. 

Then  Meet  on  ye  said  Day  &  Was  Chosen  Sam"  Gray  Moderator. 

i^'     Voted  that  Each  Pole  work  four  Days  on  ye  High  ways 

2'^  Voted  that  their  be  a  Scole  Keept  in  town  For  y'e  Space  of 
two  Months  one  Month  at  ye  Dwelling  house  of  Ephriam  Cowan  and 
one  Month  at  ye  Dwelling  house  of  William  Gray' — 

3'^'  Voted  that  ye  Constables  Post  up  ye  \\'arnings  for  town  Meet- 
ings for  ye  futur. 

4'^'  Voted  that  ye  Collectors  &  ye  Constables  from  ye  Beginning 
have  four  pound  yearly  a  Cording  to  ye  old  tenor. 

5'^  Voted  that  there  be  one  Acer  of  land  Fenced  with  a  good 
Stone  wall  and  also  that  Robert  Pebels,  Samuel  Gray  &  Robert  Loth- 
eridge  over  See  ye  Bulding  of  ye  s'^  Wall  at  their  own  Charge. — 

6'^     Voted  Their  be  two  men  Chosen  to  build  ye  said  Wall. 

This  meeting  is  adjourned  to  ye  8th  Day  of  May  Nixt  at  4  of  ye 
Clock  in  ye  After  Noon  to  Consider  ye  voted  of  fencing  ye  buring 
Place. 

At  meeting  on  adjournment  from  April  ye  26  1744  to  May  ye  8th. 
Then  Meet  to  Consider  of  ye  Method  of  fencing  ye  Buring  place  & 
was  voted  y""  ye  tifth  vote  is  Recald  &  it  is  voted  y'  ye  Sixth  vote  is 
Recald — Also 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  83 

Voted  y'  y'e  Baring  Place  be  fenced  With  Good  tive  Real  fence 
ye  Reals  ten  feet  Long  &  twelve  Lengths  to  each  Quarter,  also 

Voted  to  agree  with  a  Sutable  Person  to  fence  ye  s"*  Buring  Place — 
Also  it  is  agreed  y'  John  Conky  do  ye  above  s'  fence  &  he  is  to 
have  five  pounds  Ten  Shillings  Reward  for  said  work  aCording  to  ye 
old  tenor. — Also  voted  that  James  Gilmore  sen  John  Stinson  Sz 
Sam"  Gray  be  a  Committee  to  see  that  the  above  s'  fence  be  Suffi- 
ciently Done  by  ye  first  Day  of  Ocf  Nixt. 

Sam'l  Gray  Moderator. 

In  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  dated  May  14,  1745,  are  these 
articles, — the  meeting  being  called  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

To  see  whats  Proper  to  be  Done  about  ye  Gleass  of  ye  Meeting 
house  That  Was  Sued  for. 

To  see  what  Method  will  be  taken  in  Building  a  Pound.  (No 
action  taken  concerning  the  Pound  at  this  meeting.) 

Voted  that  James  McColloch  &  Robert  Lotheridge  be  a  Commit- 
tee to  go  to  Major  Williams  to  see  to  stop  ye  action  y'  he  Sued  for  of 
ye  Meeting  house  Gleass 

James  McColloch  Moderator. 

The  obvious  reason  for  calling  a  town  meeting  at  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning  was  to  take  action  in  season  to  stop  an  impending  law- 
suit which  Major  Williams  instituted  to  recover  pay  for  glass  used  in 
building  the  meeting  house. 

Annual  Meeting  March  3,   1745-6. 

Then  Meet  on  s'  Day  &  Was  Chosen 

George  Cowan  Moderator 

Selectmen — Alexander  Conky,  James  McCulloch,  i\.dam  Petteson, 
John  Clark,  Robert  Meklem. 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick 

Assessors — William  Gray  ye  3'',  William  Crossett,  John  Dick. 

Constables — Thomas  Dick,  Andrew  Meklem 

Treasurer — James  Conky 

Surveyors — Edward  Selfridge,  Matthew  Gray,  John  Stinson,  John 
Wason,  Thomas  Hamilton  &  William  Crossett    ■ 

Tythingmen — John  Conky,  James  Hood 

Hog  Rives — Allexander  Conky  Jun,  David  Thomas. 

Fence  Viewers — William  Conkey,  James  Gilmore  Jun. 


84  history  ov  pelham,  mass. 

Meeting  April  15,   1746. 

The  principal  business  of  tliis  meeting  was  presentation  of  Debt 
and  Credit,  and  voting  the  amounts  due  to  each  man  to  whom  the 
town  was  indebted  for  services. 

"  Meet  on  Said  Day  and  was  Chosen 
William  Gray,  Moderator. 

First    Voted  that  Samuel  Gray  be  allowed  one  Pound  sixteen  shil- 
ling old  tenor  for  Carring  a  Notification  to  Roadtown  &  Salem 
2'^'     Voted  Robert  Pebels  one  Pound  twelve  shilling 
3'*'     Voted  Samuel  Thornton  one  Pound  twelve  shilling 
4'*'     Voted  William  Gray  three  Pound  four  shilling 
5'^'     Voted  John  Gray  four  Pound  thirteen  shilling 
6'''     Voted  Alexander  Conky,  James  McCulloch,  &  John  Gray  each 
one  Pound  ten  shilling 

7 '5     Voted  William  Conky  fifteen  shilling 
8'^     Voted  James  McColloch  ten  shilling 
9'-'     Voted  James  Gilmore  one  pound 
10'-      Voted  John  Stinson  one  pound 
ii'>     Voted  John  Conky  one  pound 

12'*'     Voted  That  William  Young  be  alowed  one  Pound  old  tenor 
for  Running  the  North  line  if  Demanded 
13'-      Voted  John  Stinson  &  John  Gray  one  Pound 
i4'>'     Voted  James  Allexander  eight  shilling 

15'*'  Voted  John  Stinson  one  Pound  Eleven  shilling  overpaid  by 
him 

1 6'^'     Voted  John  Conky  two  Pound  for  taking  Care  of  ye    Meeting 
house 
17'*'     Voted  William  Crosset  Sixteen  shilling 
18'^'     Voted  Negatively  y'  Tho'  Dick'  order  be  Returned 
19'*     Voted  Thomas  Dick  eight  shilling 
Ye  vets  from  ye  first  to  the  Nineteenth  is  Debt  &  Credit  allowed 
to  the  Persons  Named." 

Voted  that  ye  Delinquents  Work  out  ye  Remainder  of  their  Work 
at  ye  Pound  &  that  there  Be  Men  Brought  from  Several  Quarters  to 
Work  &  be  alowed  as  much  as  att  ye  Roads  Work — 

Voted  y'  Thomas  Dick  be  oversier  to  have  ye  remainder  of  ye 
Work  Don  at  ye  Pound — 

Voted  that  there  be  five  Pound  Raised  to  Buy  a  town  Book  for  ye 
use  of  ye  town. 


town  meeting  records.  85 

Annual  Meeting  March  2,   1746-7. 

Then  meet  on  said  Day  and  was  Chosen  Thomas  Dick  Moderator 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick 

Treasurer — James  Conky 

Selectmen — George  Cowan,  William  Gray  3'',  James  Thornton, 
James  McConel,  Ephriam  Cowan. 

Assessors — William  Crosset,  John  Dick,  &  James  Thornton. 

Constable — For  the  East  End,  Robert  Meklem 

Constable — For  the  West  End,  Edward  Selfridge 

Surveyors — For  the  West  End,  James  McColloch,  John  Blair  & 
John  Gray. 

Surveyors — For  the  East  End,  John  Hamilton,  John  Pebels  eS:  John 
Clark. 

Tything  Men — For  the  East  End,  Robert  McKee 

Tything  Men — For  the  \\'est  End.  John  Savige 

Fence  Viewer — For  the  West  End,  John  Stinson 
■   Fence  Viewer — For  the  East  End,  John  Conky 

Hogs  Reve — For  the  East  End,  James  Taylor 

Hogs  Reve — For  the  West  End,  Thomas  Johnson 

Meeting  March   19,    1746-7. 

"Voted  that  James  Thornton,  Matthew  Gray,  Patrick  Pebels  & 
Thomas  Johnson  is  to  Oversee  the  Finishmg  ye  Pound. 

Voted  also  that  Each  Man  that  Refuses  to  Work  shall  Pay  ten 
Shilling  for  every  Day  Deficit. 

Voted  that  there  be  a  Reat  Made  on  ye  Pole  of  ten  Shilling  for 
each  Pole  that  Will  Not  Work." 

James  Thornton,   Moderator. 

In  April  of  the  previous  year  Thomas  Dick  was  chosen  to  oversee 
the  work  of  finishing  the  pound,  but  it  had  not  been  done,  and  now 
four  men  were  chosen  to  oversee  work  on  the  pound,  and  measures 
were  adopted  to  compel  men  to  work. 

Annual  Meeting  March  7,   1747-8. 

Then  Meet  on  said  Day  and  then  was  Chosen  James  Thornton 
Moderator 

Selectmen — James  Thornton,  George  Cowan,  Ephriam  Cowan, 
James  McConel  &  John  Clark 


86  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick 

Treasurer — James  Conky 

Constable  for  West  End — William  Gray  ye  3' 

Constable  for  East  End — William  Gilmore 

Assessors — John  Dick,  William  Gray  Jnn,  James  Thornton  & 
Thomas  Dick. 

Surveyors — Robert  King,  Tho'  Hamilton,  aDam  Petteson,  John 
Stinson,  John   Pebels 

Tythingman  for  the  West  End — Allexander  Tower,  James  Dunlap 

Tythingman  for  the  East  End — Patrick  Pebels,  John  Hamilton, 
Thomas  Cochran 

Fence  Viewer  for  the  West  End — John  Blair. 

Fence  Viewer  for  the  East  End — John  Conky. 

Field  Driver  for  West  End — John  Johnson. 

Voted  y'  John  Johnson  be  no  field  Driver. 

Hogs  Rive  for  West  End — James  Gilmore. 

Hogs  Rive  for  East  End — William  Linse}-. 

Protest — We  the  Subscribers  Enter  our  Protest  against  ye  unlaw- 
ful Proceedings  of  this  Meeting.  Robert  Pebels, 

Patrick  Pebels. 

We  the  subscribers  enter  our  Protest  against  ye  Proceedings  of 
this  Meeting.  Thomas  Cochran, 

John  Hamilton, 
James  Taylor. 
There  was  a  town  meeting  April  12,  1748,  and  the  warrant  called 
upon  the  town  to  "Bring  in  their  Debt  and  Credit"  also  To  see  How 
Many  Days  ye  town  will  Work  at  ye  Roads  this  Year 

To  see  Wither  the  Hogs  Will  Run  In  ye  Commons  or  be  Sutt  up. 
Voted  y'  Each  Pole  Work  two  Day  ye  Roads  this  year 
Voted  y'  ye  hogs  is  to  Run  at  learge  this  year 

James  Thornton  Moderator. 

Meeling  August   ii,   1748. 

Two  Articles  in  Warrant 

i"  To  see  if  the  town  will  be  Willing  to  lett  Every  .Man  Have  Powder  out 
of  the'town  Stock  as  fare  as  Every  Man  Paid. 

2'-^  to  see  if  the  town  Will  be  Willing  to  Have  a  Rate  made  to  Bay  a 
Burioii  Cloth  for  ve  U.se  of  ve  town. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  87- 

Voted  that  every  Man  Have  Powder  &  Lead  as  fare  as  they  Have 
Paid  >S:  have  itt  out  of  ye  Present  town  Stock. 

Voted  that  there  be  a  Buring  Cloth  bought,  also  voted  there  be- 
twenty  pound  Made  in  a  Rate  to  buy  the  same. 

William  Gray   i''  Moderator. 

Annual  Meeiing  March  6,   1748-9. 

Then  meet  on  said  day  and  was  chosen  Thomas   Dick  Moderator 

Town  Clerk, — John  Dick 

Treasurer, — James  Conky 

Selectmen, — Thomas  Dick,  John  Fergerson,  John  Johnson,  John, 
Hunter,  John  Dick. 

Assessors, — John  Fergerson.  Thomas  Dick  and  John  Hunter. 

Constable  for  ye  East  end — John  Clark. 

Constable  for  ye  West  end — Ephraim  Cowan. 

Tythingman  for  ye  West  end — John  Edeger. 

Tythingman  for  ye  East  end — John  Hamilton. 

Surveyors  for  ye  East  end — William  Conky  George  Cowan  William 
Crosett  James  Gilmore 

Surveyors  for  3^e  West  end — William  Fergerson  Allexander  Tonrer 
James  McConel. 

Fence  Viewer  for  ye  West  end — John  Stinson. 

Fence  Viewer  for  ye  East  end — John  Conky. 

Hog  Rives — Edward  Selfidge  and  John  Conky. 

Meeting  adjourned  to  First  day  of  April  next  at  nine  of  the  Clock 
in  the  forenoon. 

Annual  Meeting  March  5,  1749-50. 

Then  meet  on  said  day  and  was  Chosen  James  Conky  Moderator.. 
Town  Clerk — John  Dick. 
Treasurer, — George  Cowan 

Selectmen, — Ephraim  Cowan,  James  McCoUock,  James  Conky 
William  Crosett  and. John  Conkey 

Assessors — Thomas  Dick  William  Crosett  and  James  Conky. 
Constable  for  ye  West  end — John  Lucore 
Constable  for  ye  East  end — John  Hamilton. 
Tythingman  for  ye  East  end — Thomas  Cochran 
Tythingman  for  ye  West  end — Joseph  Rinken 


85  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Surveyors  for  ye  West  end — John  Crawford  Jun  John  Savige  David 
•Cowden  and  Ephraim  Cowan. 

Surveyors  for  ye  East  end — ^Adam  Johnson,  James  Gihiiore  Andrew 
Meklem  and  William  Gilmore. 

Hoge  Rive  for  ye  East  end — Daniel  Gray 

Hoge  Rive  for  ye  West  end — Robert  McCoIlock 

Fence  Viewer  for  ye  West  end — Robert  Blair. 

Fence  Viewer  for  ye  East  end — James  Taylor. 

This  year  seems  to  have  been  a  quiet  one  among  the  people,  there 
having  been  but  one  town  meeting  from  March  5  1750  to  March  4 
1 75 1,  and  that  was  to  bring  in  the  '' Debt  and  Credit"  and  settle 
with  all  that  had  done  work  for  the  town. 

Annual  Meeting  ]\Iarch  4,   1751. 

Then  meet  on  said  Day  and  then  was  Chosen  William  Crosett, 
Moderator — 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick. 

Treasurer — George  Cowan 

Selectmen — Ephraim  Cowan  James  McColloch  John  Conky  James 
-Conkey  and  William  Crosett. 

Assessors — William  Crosett,  Thomas  Dick  and  James  Conky. 

Constable  for  ye  East  end  George  Petteson 

Constable  for  ye  West  end  Robert  King. 

Road  Surveyors  for  ye  West  end  John  Savige  David  Thomas 
John  Crawford  Jun  and  Da\'id  Cowden. 

Road  Surveyors  for  ye  East  end  Robert  Meklem  William  Conky 
and  John  Clark 

Tuthingman  for  ye  East  end  James  Taylor. 

Tuthingman  for  ye  West  end  Edward  Selfridge 

Fence  Viewer  for  ye  West  end  John  Blair 

Fence  Viewer  for  ye  East  end  John   Pebels 

Hog  Rives  for  ye  East  end  James  Hamilton 

Hog  Rives  for  ye  West  end  John  Johnson 

Voted  Negatively  that  the  town  refuses  to  open  ye  Range  Road 
for  the  Convenency  of  George  Cowan  also  voted  that  the  town  His 
aproven  of  ye  Roads  that  ye  Selectmen  Viewed  for  the  Convenancy 
of  the  Inhabitons  of    Pelham. 

We  ye  Subscribers  Do  Acknowledge  our  Selves  contented  to 
establish  the  Roads  when  ye  Selectmen  viewed  through  our  Lands  as 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  89 

Witness  our  hands  George  Cowan  Thomas  Hamilton  Thomas  McMul- 
lan  Joseph  Rinken. — 

We  ye  Subscribers  Inhabitons  of  Pelham  Do  Protest  against  the 
unregular  Proceedings  at  their  Annual  Meeting  March  4""  1751 — In 
not  purging  the  Meeting  and  alowing  Voters  as  ye  Law  Directs, 
Robert  Pebels  James  Taylor  John  Hunter,  Thomas  McMuUen  Adam 
Petteson  Thomas  Hamilton  John  Gray  Thomas  Dick  Edward  Selfidge 
John  Hamilton 

William  Crosett  Moderator. 

Meeting  April  30,   1751. 

Thomas  Dick  alowed  ^i — Ss  for  making  Rats 
James  Conkey  alowed  17s — 4d  for  making  Rats 

^  P        AT  /^   n     1  I  each  alowed  2s  8d  for  running   Line   between 

James  McCoUock  )-  „    n  i  ^-i  •    + 

-;,      „     ,  (  Hadley  and  this  town 

John  Conky  )  ■' 

John  Conky  alowed  6s — 8d  for  taking  care  of  Meeting  house. 

William  Crosett  alowed  17 — 4d  for  running  line  between  Quabin 
and  this  town. 

Voted  that  each  pole  work  three  Days  att  the  Roads 

Voted  that  each  Delinquent  Pole  pay  3  shilling  lawful  money  per 
Day 

Voted  that  ye  Hogs  Run  at  Large  this  Present  year. 

Voted  that  there  be  one  acre  and  a  half  fenced  with  stone  wall  for 
buring  yard 

Voted  that  Each  Pole  work  one  Day  at  ye  Buring  yeard  also  voted 
that  Each  Delinquent  Pole  pay  three  shilling  lawful  money. 

Voted  that  Cart  or  Slide  &  one  Pare  of  Oxen  be  Equal  to  one 
Pole  for  this  Present  year  at  the  Buring  yeard, 

Thomas  Dick  Moderator. 

Annual  Meeting  i^L\rch  2,   1752. 

Then  meet  on  said  Day  and  was  Chosen  \\'illiam  Crosett — 
Moderator 

Town  Clerk. — John  Dick 

Treasurer. — John  Hamilton 

Selectmen. — John  Savige  Patrick  Peebils  John  Johnson  John  Blair 
Thomas  Johnson. 

Assessors. — David  Cowden  David  Thomas  Daniel  Gray. 


^O  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Constables. — Patrick  McMullen  &  James  Conky. 
Tythingmen. — John  Pebels  &  Robert  Blair. 

Surveyors. — Thomas   Cochran    Andrew    Meklem    William    Conky 
Hugh  Johnson  John  Savige  Allexander  McCollock  Robert  Lotheredge 
Hoge  Reevies  Jonathan  Gray  John  Lucore. 

Meeting  April  8,   1752. 

Meet  on  said  Day  and  was  chosen  John  Savige  Moderator 

First  Voted  that  John   Conkey  is   allowed   five   shilling  and  four 
pence  for  lawful  money  for  taking  care  of   the  Meeting  house. 

2'>'     James  Conky  is  allowed  seventeen  shilling  four  pence  for  mak- 
ing Reats  Eight  Days  and  a  half 

3'^      Thomas  Dick  is  allow^ed   seventeen   shilling   and   four   pence 
for  making  Reats  eight  days  and  a  half 

4'*     William  Crosett  is  allow^ed  thirteen  shillings  for  making  Reats 
six  days  and  a  half. 

5'>      Daniel  Gray  is  alowed  Eight  Shilling  for  a  jorney  of  his  Horse 
to  Boston 

6''     Voted  that  the  assessors  is  alowed  to  assess  forty  four  pound 
Nine  Shilling  for  ye  Support  of  Gospel  for  this  present  year 

7'^     Voted  that  there  is  eight  Pound  alowed  for  the  support  of  a 
school  the  Present  year 

8'-      Voted   that   there  be  a  Committee   chosen  to  provide  a  schole 
Master 

— Said   Committee    is   John    Stinson    Robert    Lotheridge  &  Andrew 
Meklem 

9'>     Voted  y'  Each  Pole  ^^'ork  two  I)a}-s  at  ye  Roads  and  one  Day 
at  ye  Buring  Yeard 

lo'^'     Voted  that  ye  hogs  Run  at  large  this  Present  year 

12'^     Voted  that  John  Starling  and  Thomas  Lowdan  is  freed  from 
there  Reats  for  this  Present  year 

Jt)HX  Savige  Moderator. 

Annual  Meeting  March  5.   1753. 

Then  Meet  on  said  Day  and  was  Chosen  James  Conky  Moderator. 
Town  Clerk, — John  Dick 
Treasurer, — Thomas  Dick 

Selectmen, — Patrick   Peebels   Thomas   Johnson   John  Savige  John 
Elair  George  Cowan 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  9 1 

Assessors, — John  Fergerson  David  Thomas  Daniel  Gray. 
Constables, — William  Crosett  for  the  East  End  John  Blair  for  the 
West  End 

Voted  that  the  old  Surveyors  stand  for  the  Present  year. 

Petition  sent  to  the  General  Court. 

By  reason  of  the  failure  to  administer  the  oath  to  the  town  officers 
elected  in  the  spring  of  1753  it  became  necessary  to  apply  to  the 
General  Court  to  legalize  the  acts  of  these  men  and  the  following 
petition  was  sent  to  Boston  by  the  selectmen  of  1753  : 

To  his  Excellency  William  Shirley  Esq  Captain  General  &  Governor 
In  Chief  &  to  the  Honorable  His  Majestys  Council  and  House  of 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled  Dec  1753. 

The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Pelham  Humbly 
Showeth — That  the  Said  town  at  their  Meeting  in  March  Last  for  the 
Choice  of  Town  Officers  through  inadvertancy  neglected  to  Admin- 
ister the  oath  respecting  the  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  other  Govern- 
ments unto  the  Several  officers  that  were  then  Chosen  which  causes 
great  Difficultys  among  us — We  humbly  request  your  Excellency  & 
Honor  to  enable  us  to  Call  a  Meeting  of  Said  Town  for  the  choice 
of  Officers  &:  that  they  may  be  Qualified  according  to  law  or  other- 
wise relieve  us  as  in  your  Wisdom  you  shall  see  fit  and  as  in  duty 
bound  shall  ever  Pray 

George  Cowan 
Patrick    Peebles 
John  Savige 
John  Blair 
Thomas  Johnson 

In  the  House  of  Representtives  Dec.   12,   1753. 

Whereas  the  town  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  when 
they  chose  their  officers  to  the  respective  offices  in  Said  Town  in 
March  Last  ojnitted  administering  to  them  the  oath  appointed  by 
Law  of  this  Province  of  the  22'  of  His  Present  Majests  Reign 
Respecting  Bills  of  Credit  of  the  Neighboring  Governments 
appointed  to  be  taken  by  such  ofiicers  by  Means  Whereof  the  several 
officers  in  said  town  are  vacant  &  thereby  Great  Inconveniences  &• 
Difficulties  Have  arisen  to  said  town  which  Cannot  be  Remedied  but 
by  ye  aid  &  Interposition  of  this  Court — Therefore  ordered  that 
Eleazer  Porter  Esq'  be  directed  &  Hereby  Impowered  to  Issue  His 
Warrant  Directed  to  some  Inhabitant  of  said  Town — Requiring  him 
to  Avarn  and  give  Notice  to  the  Inhabitons  of  said  town  as  by  said 
warrant  shall  be  appointed  to  make  choice  of  such  officers  for  said 


92  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

town  as  shall  be  Necessary  &  acording  to  Law  ought  to  be  chosen 
j-early  for  transacting  the  affairs  of  said  Town  &  the  Inhabitons 
Being  so  Met  are  Hereby  Impowered  to  Make  Choice  of  Such 
officers  and  such  Officers  so  Chosen — Having  first  Taken  the  oath 
aforesaid  &  the  oaths  of  their  Respective  offices  Shall  have  the  Like 
Power  in  their  Respective  offices  as  by  Law  they  would  have  had  on 
their  being  Chosen  acording  to  ye  Directions  of  the  Law  in  the  Month 
of  March  &  Qualified  as  aforesaid 

Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

F  Hubbard  Speaker 
hi  Councel  Dec  12  1753 

Read  &  Concurred     Thomas  Clarke  Dep'  Secry 
Consented  to     William  Shirly. 

Hampshire  ss  March  ye  Eight  one  thousand  Seven  Hundred  &  fifty  four 

To  John  Savige  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  (Porsuant  of  the 
Within  order  of  the  Cireat  and  General  Court)  In  His  Majestys  Name  you 
are  Required  to  Notifie  &  Warn  all  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitons 
of  said  Pelham  Qualified  to  vote  in  town  Meetings  to  assemble  themselves 
together  at  the  Meeting  house  in  said  Pelham  on  the  twenty  Eight  of  this 
Month  at  Nine  of  the  Clock  in  ye  forenoon  then  &  there  to  Make  Choice  of 
all  Necessary  town  officers  which  by  Law  towns  are  obliged  to  Make  Choice 
of  &  Make  Return  of  your  Doings  thereon  to  your  Inhabitons  so  assembled. 

Given  under  My  Hand  &  Seal  ye  Day  and  Deate  Above  said 

Eleazer  Porter  Justs  Coram. 

By  Vartue  of  the  Within  Warrant  I  have  Warned  the  Inhabitons  of 
Pelham  above  said  to  Meet  at  time  &  Place  alcove  mentioned 

Pelham  March  ye  twenty  Eight  one  thousand  seven  hundred  &  fifty  four 

John  Savige. 

Annual  Meeting  March  28,   1754. 

Then  meet  on  said  Day  &  was  chosen 

William  Crosett,  INIoderator 

Town  Clerk,— John  Dick. 

Treasurer — Thomas  Dick. 

Selectmen — Thomas  Hamilton  Alexander  Torner  John  Fergerson 
David  Thomas  William  Conkey 

Assessors, — John  Fergerson  David  Thomas  Daniel  Gray. 

Constables, — John  Conkey  Robert  McCollock 

Surveyors, — Archibald  Crosett  Patrick  McMullen  Thomas  Hamil- 
ton  Alexander   Conkey  John  Blair   Thomas  Johnson  W'"  Fergerson 

Hog  Rieves, — Allexander  McNut  Joseph  Rinken 

Fence  Viewers, — Daniel  Gray  Robert  Blair 


town  meeting  records.  93 

Meeting,  April   i6,    1754. 

Allowed  six  shillings  to  John  Conkey  for  taking  care  of  the  Meet- 
ing house. 

Allowed  John  Savige  and  John  Blair  Ss — Sd  for  Getting  a  Preacipe 
from  the  court  to  Hold  Meetings. 

Voted  to  Petition  the  General  court  for  a  Help  from  ye  None 
Inhabitons  for  finishing  ye  Meeting  house 

Voted  that  each  Delinquent  Pole  pay  two  shilling 

"  Voted  that  William  Crosett  Thomas  Dick  &  John  Dick  be  a 
Committee  to  Look  over  the  town  Vots  &  lay  the  same  Before  ye 
town  they  think  Not  Proper  to  be  Recorded 

Voted  that  there  be  a  Bridge  Bult  over  the  West  Branch  where  the 
Road  is  Newly  Confirmed  by  the  Town.'' 

Adjourned  to  the  third  Tuesday  in  May  and  again  to  the  27"'  of 
May. 

"  Voted  that  there  be  one  Half  penny  per  aker  Laid  on  the  None 
■Inhabitons  Lands" 

James  Conkey  Moderator. 

The  vote  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  West  Branch  makes  it  clear 
that  the  road  across  the  river  had  been  changed  and  a  new  bridge 
was  required. 

The  laying  a  tax  of  one  penny  per  acre  upon  the  lands  of  all  known 
Inhabitants  to  raise  money  to  repair  the  ^Meeting  house  could  not 
have  been  a  burdensome  demand,  and  the  evident  intention  was  to 
oblige  all  landowners  to  contribute. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  3,   1755. 

Then  meet  on  Said  Day  and  Was  chosen  Thomas  Dick,  Moderator. 

Town  Clerk,— John  Dick. 

Treasurer, — George  Cowan. 

Selectmen, — Thomas  Hamilton  Allexender  Turner  John  Fergerson 
William  Conky  &  David  Thomas. 

Assessors, — David  Thomas  John  Fergerson  &  Daniel  Gray. 

Surveyors, — William  Harkness,  Allexender  Turner  John  Johnson, 
James  Fergerson  Arcebald  Crosett,  \\Tlliam  Crosett  W'illiam  Conkey, 
James  Cowan,  David  Cowdin. 


94 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Constables, — Patrick  McMullen  &  Thomas  Johnson. 

Fence  Viewers. — James  Hamikon  &:  James  Harkness. 

Hogreeves, — Robert  Hamilton  Hugh  Johnson. 

At  the  above  meeting  several  roads  were  established  and  we  copy 
the  agreements  made  and  signed  consenting  to  roads  established  by 
the  selectmen. 

"  Pelham  March  Ye  3'  1755 
These  are  to  Signifie  that  We  alowe  a  Rode  of  one  Road  In  Width 
on  the  West  side  of  the  Second  Division  Lot  No.  Six  Now  in  our 
Posission  Beginning  at  the  four  Rode  Road  &:  to  Run  as  fare  North 
as  ye  land  Now  in  ye  Posession  of  John  Edegar  And  to  be  Improved 
by  said  Town  So  Longe  as  We  may  Peacably  Posses  &  Injoy  the 
Range  Road  Laid  out  on  the  North  of  said  lot  viz.  the  timber 
As  Witness  our  Hands 

John  Gray 
Thomas  Dick 

These  are  to  Signifie  that  W'e  the  subscribers  is  \^'illing  that  the 
Road  shall  be  Improved  by  said  town  as  Laid  out  By  the  Selectmen, 
Viz  :  one  Rode  In  \\'idth  through  John  Grays  Land  &  two  Parch 
through  John  Edegers  John  Blairs  &  James  Fergersons  Lands 

As  \Vitness  our  Hands 

James  Fergerson 
John  Blair 
John  Edeger 

These  May  Certifie  that  I  am  Willing  to  Let  ye  Road  go  where  it 
now  Dos  Between  Matthew  Grays  &  ye  Corn  Mill  Having  ye  Range 
Rode  Equivelent 

John  McFarland 

These  may  signify  that  I  allowe  a  Road  of  two   Parch  Wide  from 
My  North   East    Corner  of   My  Lote  No  37  to  the   Range   Road  as 
\\'itness  my  Hand 
Pelham  March  25  1755  David  Thomas 

Neither  Mr.  Thomas  nor  the  selectmen  give  any  hint  of  the  direction 
of  this  road,  but  it  must  be  assumed  that  Mr.  Thomas  could  have  no 
authority  to  allow  road  building  on  land  not  his  own  so  the  road  he 
consented  to  above  must  have  been  built  from  the  Northeast  corner 
of  lot  No.  37  on  the  plan  South  to  the  first  range  road  : 

"  These  may  certifie  that  We  alowe  ye  town  to  confirm  the   Road 
as  is  laid   out   through   our   Lands   as    Witness   our   Hands   Patrick 
Peebles  Robert  Peebles 
Pelham  March  25  1775  " 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  95 

By  a  reference  to  the  plan  of  the  town  it  will  be  seen  that  the  home 
lots  of  Patrick  and  Robert  Peebles  were  No.  7  and  No.  16  respectively, 
and  the  road  referred  to  was  somewhere  south  of  Prescott  center. 

"  We  Ye  Subscribers  Desire  ye  tovrn  to  Confirm  a  Road  of  two 
Parch  \\'ide  by  the  House  of  Daniel  Grays  North  from  the  Range 
Road  to  his  North  Line  Likewise  from  John  Peebles  North  \^'est 
Corner  to  ye  County  Road  of  one  Rode  in  \\'idth  for  ye  Benefite  of 
Daniel  Gray  as  U'itness  our  Hands 

John  Peebles 
March  25  1755  Daniel  Gray. 

John  Peebles  is  on  record  as  owner  of  lot  No.  16,  perhaps  by  pur- 
chase of  Robert  Peebles,  consequently  it  may  be  assumed  that  Daniel 
Gray  lived  in  that  part  of  the  town  and  would  be  benefited  by  the 
highway. 

"  March  the  twenty  first  1755 

Then  Laid  out  a  Road  from  Allexander  Turners  South  East  Cor- 
ner Into  John  Grays  Land  along  his  South  Line  till  it  Comes  up  the 
Hill  Into  the  Great  Road  Which  Road  is  on  ye  South  Side  of  the 
Mark't  trees  two  Parch  \^■  ide  by  us. 

John  Fergerson    "^ 

William  Conkey     -  Selectmen 

David  Thomas        ) 

"  These  May  Certifie  that  the  town  May  Have  a  Road  in  my  Land 
two  Parch  Wide  as  itt  is  now  Laid  out  if  I  may  Have  ye  Range  road 
as  far  as  said  Road  Goes  in  my  Land  as  Witness  My  Hand. 

John  Gray. 
Pelham  March  ye  25  1755  " 

Alexander  Turner  drew  Houselot  No.  46  and  John  Gray  No.  47. 
The  location  of  the  latter  is  substantially  the  same  as  the  farm  of 
Levi  Moulton  and  the  farm  known  as  the  Joseph  G.  Ward  place. 

Meeting,  April  24,   1755. 

The  April  business  meeting  was  known  as  the  "  Debt  &  Credit " 
meeting  for  the  reason  that  at  this  April  meeting  men  brought  in  their 
bills  for  labor  and  the  bills  weie  considered  in  open  meeting 
and  allowed  or  disallowed  according  to  the  temper  of  the  meeting. 
There  was  much  adjusting  and  settlement  of  accounts  at  this  particu- 
lar meeting  and  it  is  interesting  in  its  way. 

"  Then  Meet  on  said  Day  and  was  Chosen  William  Crosett, 
Moderator. 


g6  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

first  Voted  that  the  town  His  aCepted  ye  aCount  that  Thomas 
Dick  Give  In  for  His  Being  treasurer. 

2'^'  Thomas  Dick  is  alowed  £2 — 3s — o — 2  fathings  for  being 
treasurer  four  years. 

3'^'  Voted  that  Robert  Hamilton  is  Cleared  from  His  Reats  ye 
year  175 i. 

4'^'  A^oted  tliat  John  Allexander  Jun  is  Cleared  from  His  Reats  in 
ye  Lists 

5''  Voted  that  William  Conkey  &  John  Dick  each  of  them  is 
allowed  is — 4d  for  Mending  ye  Meeting  House  \A'indows. 

6'^'  John  Conkey  is  allowed  Six  shilling  for  taking  care  of  the 
Meetinghouse. 

y''  John  Fergerson  David  Thomas  &  Daniel  Gray  each  allowed 
Six  shilling  for  taking  care  of    ye  Invoyice. 

8'^'  That  Robert  Peebles  is  alowed  £2 — 13s — 4d  for  ten  Weeks 
Boarding  Preachers. 

g'>'  That  Mr  Dickinson  is  alowed  £2 — 12s  for  Preaching  and  Mr 
McClintock  is  alowed  £^ — 8s  for  Preaching  also  that  Mr.  John 
Houston  is  alowed  ^5 — Ss  for  Preaching 

lo'-"'  John  Blair  &  John  Clark  each  alowed  one  Pound  for  Going 
to  Boston  to  the  Presbytrie. 

11'*'  James  Johnson  is  alowed  ^i  —  los — 8d  for  going  to  the  Pres- 
bytrie at  Newberry. 

12'^'  Robert  Peebles  is  alowed  _/' i — Gs — Sd  for  entertaining  the 
INIinisters  Presbytrie  time. 

I3''''     Robert  Hamilton  is  tleared  of    His  Pole  Reats  for  this  year. 

14'^'  John  Johnson  John  Clark  &  John  Blair  each  alow'd  ^"i,  for 
going  to  East  town  Presbytrie. 

15'^  David  Thomas  is  alowed  ten  Shilling  for  going  to  London- 
derry for  Advice. 

i6'-'  that  there  be  Six  Pound  for  the  support  of  a  Scole  for  ye 
Present  year. 

17'^     Voted  that  the  Hogs  Run  at  Large  this  Present  year. 

18'''  Voted  that  ye  Line  be  Run  PJetween  New  Salem  Roadtown 
&  this  town  by  Cornel  Timothy  Dwight. 

19'^  that  there  be  Forty  Pounds  for  Repairing  ye  Roads  3'e  Pers- 
ent  year — also  voted  that  said  Money  be  Laid  on  Pols  &  Reatable 
Estate. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  97 

20'-  Voted  that  Each  Pole  be  alowed  two  ShilUng  pr  Day  at  the 
Roads  this  Present  year. 

21'-  Voted  that  there  be  forty  five  Pound  Assessed  for  the  support 
of  ye  Gospel  for  the  Present  Year. 

22'-  Voted  that  the  Scole  Be  Keep  at  the  Meeting-house  &  the 
East  Hill  &  the  West  End  each  place  to  Have  there  Proporsheable 
Share  Also  voted  that  ther  be  a  Scole  House  Buielt  at  the  Meeting- 
house— Likewise  voted  that  there  be  a  Scole  House  Built  at  the  West 
End — also  voted  that  there  Be  a  Scole  House  Buielt  at  the  East  Hill. 

William  Cro-Sett  Moderator. 

Annual  Meeting,  March   i,   1756. 

Then  meet  on  said  day  and  there  was  Chosen 

William  Crosett — Moderator. 

Town  Clerk—John  Dick. 

Treasurer — John  Fergerson. 

Selectmen — John  Fergerson,  David  Thomas,  Thomas  Johnson, 
John  Blair  &  James  Harkness. 

Assessors — John  Fergerson,  David  Thomas,  Daniel  Gray. 

Constables — Jonathan  Gray  (S;  William  Harkness. 

Surveyors  —  John  Conky,  Robert  Meklem,  Archibald  Crosett, 
George  Cowan,  George  Petteson,  John  Gray,  James  Harkness, 
Edward  Selfridge,  James  Fergerson,  William  Fergerson. 

Fence  Viewers — William  Conkey,  David  Cowden. 

Hoge  Reeves — John  Conky,  Robert  Blair. 

The  only  important  matter  of  record  at  this  annual  meeting  besides 
the  choice  of  officers  is  the  following — 

"  This  may  Certifie  that  I  Am  Willing  the  Cross  Road  Go  round  the  East 
side  of  ye  Pond  Hole  In  My  Land  two  Parch  Wide  for  the  Use  of  the  Town 
So  long  as  I  In  joy  the  Road  In  the  Pond  Hole 

Witness  My  Hand 
Pelham  March  i   1756.  George  Pettesox."' 

Meeting,  March   24.    1756. 

John  Conky  allowed  four  shillings  for  taking  Care  of  the  Meeting 
house. 

Robert  Peebles  allowed  £t^ — 16s  for  keeping  the  iNIinister  and  His 
Horse  fifteen  Weeks. 


98  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    :\IASS. 

The  Committee  to  Wite  John  Savige,  George  Cowan  &  James 
Johnson  is  allowed  One  Pound  for  Going  to  the  Presbytrie  at  Boston. 

Voted  ^40  for  support  of  the  Gospel  the  Present  Year. 

Voted  that  the  town  be  Divided  Into  five  Parts  as  Relating  to 
Schools. 

William  Crosett,  Moderator. 

Annual  Meeting,   March   7,   1757. 

Meet  on  said  Day  and  there  was  Chosen 

William  Crosett — Moderator. 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick. 

Treasurer — John  Fergerson. 

Selectmen — Archibald  Crosett,  William  Crosett,  Patrick  McMullen, 
Thomas  Hamilton,  James  McConel. 

Assessors — John  Fergerson,  I^'ivid  Thomas,  James  Harkness. 

Constables — Thomas  Cochran,  James  Dunlap. 

Surveyors — John  Peebles,  James  Berry,  William  Linsey,  George 
Pettison,  William  Conkey,  Robert  King,  John  Crawford,  Matthew 
Gray,  Thomas  Dick  &  William  Selfridge. 

Fence  Viewers — James  Harkness,  Jonathan  Gray. 

Hogreeves — Oliver  Selfridge,  James  Cowan. 

Meeting,  April  12,   1757. 

Various  sums  allowed — 

David  Thomas  5s — 4d  for  taking  the  I^rovince  Invoice. 

William   Fergerson  14s — 8d  for  His  Meere  to  Boston  &  Newbery. 

W'illiam  Conky  12s  for  one  Jorney  of  His  Horse  to  Boston. 

John  Gray  ;^i — 3s  for  Keeping  ye  Ministers  six  Weeks. 

Robert  Peebles  £2 — 12s  for  Keeping  ye  Ministers  fourteen  W'eeks. 

Voted  ;,^4o  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  this  Present  Year. 

Voted  that  the  Hogs  run  at  Large. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  6,   1758. 

Meet  on  said  day  &  there  was  Chosen 
William  Crosett — Moderator. 
Town    Clerk — John  Dick. 
Treasurer — John  Fergerson. 


CAPT.   BENJAMIN    PAGK  S    HOUSE. 


ABIJAH   FALES'   FARM    HOUSE. 


TOWN    .MEETING    RECORDS.  99 

Selectmen — William  Harkness,  AUexander  McCallock,  John 
Hunter,  John  Crawford  &  William  Conk}-. 

Assessors — John  Fergerson,  William  Crosett  &  Hugh  Johnson. 

Surveyors — John  Gray  Jun,  Andrew  Maklem,  AUexander  Conky, 
James  Thompson,  John  Hamilton,  John  Gray,  William  Harkness, 
James  McConel,  James  Fergerson,  Thomas  Dick. 

Fence  Viewers — Daniel  Gray  &  Capt  Robert  Lotheridge. 

Hogreeves — Isaac  Gray  &  James  Cowan. 

It  was  at  this  meeting  that  the  first  action  was  taken  for  assistance 
to  the  poor,  ^lo  being  allowed  for  the  support  of  Thomas  Lowden's 
family,  and  it  was  "  Voted  that  Capt  Robert  Lotheridge,  John  Craw- 
ford &  William  Harkness  Be  a  Committee  to  Receive  the  Money  or 
Corn  or  Meal  for  said  Lowdens  family."  It  was  also  "Voted  that 
Thomas  Lowden  is  to  Continue  in  the  Dwelling  House  Where  He  is." 
The  intention  doubtless  was  to  assist  the  unfortunate  Lowden  at  his 
home  rather  than  to  remove  him  to  other  quarters. 

Meeting,  May  26,   1758. 

Debt  and  Credit  was  brought  in,  and  various  sums  allowed  or 
voted. 

John  Conky  allowed  six  shilling  for  taking  care   of  Meeting  house. 

Alexander  Turner  fourteen  shilling  for  tending  Court  at  Spring- 
field. 

John  Crawford  six  shilling  for  Moving  Thomas  Lowden's  Hay. 

James  Harkness  six  shilling  for  taking  Invoice  and  Making  Reats. 

John  Fergerson  and  David  Thomas  six  shilling  each  making  Reats. 

John  Gray  £7, — 15s  for  Boarding  Minister. 

Thomas  Hamilton,  6  shilling  for  tending  the  Corps  of  Mr.  Baker. 

Robert  Peebles  8  shilling  for  hording  Minister  Sacrament  Time. 

Voted  ^,"40  for  the  Support  of  the  Gospel  this  Present  Year. 

Voted  ^13 — 6s — Sd  for  Support  of  School  the  Present  Year. 

Voted  ^8  for  Repairing  ye  Roads. 

Each  Pole  is  allowed  three  Shilling  per  Day  on  Roads. 

Eighteen  pence  for  one  Pare  of  Oxen  and  Eighteen  pence  for  a 
Cart  per  Day. 

Lastly  Voted  that  the  Hogs  Run  at  Large  this  Present  Year. 

\A'iLLiAM  Crosett,  Moderator. 


loo  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Meeting,   Sept.   23,    17 58. 

This  meeting  seems  to  have  been  called  mainl}-  to  choose  a 
town  treasurer  in  place  of  John  Fergerson  who  had  been  elected  at 
the  previous  Annual  Meeting,  and  the  cause  for  this  action  as 
recorded,  wrs  "  By  Reason  of  Said  Fergerson's  Removal." 

John  Fergerson  had  been  a  prominent  citizen  from  the  very  first, 
and  drew  home  lot  No.  50,  located  v.est  of  the  Meeting  house  and 
close  to  the  ten  acres  set  apart  for  "  Common,  training  field,  and 
burial  ground."  It  was  at  the  log  house  of  John  Fergerson  that  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Proprietors  was  held  after  they  took  possession 
of  the  land  and  had  time  to  build  houses,  and  the  date  of  the  meeting 
was  Aug.  6,   1740. 

Mr.  Fergerson  had  been  with  the  people  of  Pelham  for  nearly 
twenty  years,  a  valuable  aud  trusted  citizen  whose  removal  to  some 
other  portion  of  the  country  must  have  been  a  serious  loss.  Where 
he  removed  to  the  records  give  no  hint.  There  were  others  of  the 
name  in  town  at  that  time  but  there  have  been  none  of  the  name  for 
many  years.  Besides  John  Fergerson  there  were  James,  Robert, 
Samuel,  and  William,  possibly  sons  of  town  treasurer  John,  or  his 
brothers. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  5,   1759. 

Then  Meet  on  Said  Day  and  was  Chosen 

John  Crawford — Moderator. 

Town  Clerk— John  Dick. 

Treasurer — Alexander  McColloch. 

Selectmen — William  Crosett,  James  Berry,  William  Clark,  David 
Cowden,  Robert  McColloch. 

Assessors — Hugh  Johnson,  William  Crosett,  John  Hunter. 

Constables — Alexander  Conky,  James  Fergerson. 

Surveyors — John  Dick,  Alexander  McNutt,  John  Clark,  James 
Harkness,  Alexander  Turner. 

Field  Drivers — David  Cowden,  Thomas  Cochran. 

Hog  Reeves — William  Conky,  William  Fergerson. 

Fence  Viewers — John  Blair,  William  Selfridge. 

Deer  Reeves — Hugh  Johnson,  James  Tompson. 

There  had  been  officers  to  enforce  the  law  against  "  I'Cilling 
Deer"  since  1743  but  the  office  of  Deer  Reeve  appears  for  the  first 


TOWN    INIEETING    RECORDS.  lOI 

time,  and  such  officers  chosen.  And  at  a  meeting  May  24,  1759, 
the  warrant  called  for  action  in  relation  to  choosing  a  man  to  repre- 
sent tile  town  at  the  Great  and  General  Court,  but  no  action  was 
talven  on  the  article,  at  least  there  is  no  record  of  such  action.  This 
was  the  first  time  anything  is  said  about  sending  a  man  to  the 
General  Court  from  the  town. 

Annual  Meeting,   March  3,   1760. 

Meet  on  said  day  and  was  Chosen 

\Mlliam  Crosett — Moderator. 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick. 

Treasurer — Allexander  McColloch. 

Selectmen — James  Harkness,  Thomas  Johnson,  William  Fergerson, 
Thomas  Dick,  Robert  Lotheridge. 

Assessors — Thomas  Dick,  William  Crosett,  John  Dick. 

Surveyors — William  Harkness,  John  Blair,  William  Conkey,  Isaac 
Gray. 

Field  Driver — John  Gray. 

Hog  Reeves — John  Gray,  David  Cowden. 

Deer  Reeve — George  Pettison. 

Meeting,  Oct.   2,   1760. 

There  was  a  committee  chosen  to  Place    School  houses  and  it  was 

"  Voted  that  there  be  a  Man  or  Men  chosen  to  go  to  the  Jersey  to 
Gett  a  Minister  to  Supply  the  Pulpit — also  Voted  that  John  Crawford 
is  Chosen  to  go  to  the  Jersey  to  Gett  a  Minister  to  Supply  the  Pulpit." 

The  journey  to  Jersey  on  horseback  was  no  small  undertaking  at 
that  time  but  the  need  of  a  settled  minister  was  urgent. 

That  the  settlers  of  the  town  were  industrious,  hard-working  men 
cannot  be  questioned  but  the  material  evidences  of  their  success 
clearing  up  and  subdueing  the  wild  tract  they  had  settled  upon  are 
very  limited,  and  consist  of  certain  invoices  handed  in  by  them  for 
taxation.  A  small  package  tied  with  a  homespun  linen  yarn  which 
was  found  among  waste  papers  and  documents  in  boxes  at  the  town 
clerk's  office  and  containing  about  two  score  of  these  schedules  dated 
in  April  and  May,  i  760,  twenty-two  years  after  the  tract  was  pur- 
chased, give  some  idea  of  tlieir  success.  Eight  of  these  invoices  are 
those  of   first  settlers   who   drew  "home    lots."  and  the   others   must 


I02  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    .MASS. 

have  settled  in  town  soon  after  the  first  settlers  drew  their  lots. 
These  invoices  of  property  for  taxation  are  written  upon  small  scraps 
of  paper,  and  give  the  personal  property  for  taxation,  such  as  stocks 
of  cattle  and  horses,  grain  on  hand,  also  the  number  of  acres  of  till- 
age land,  mowing  and  orcharding,  also  dwelling-houses,  barrels  of 
cider,  tons  of  hav,  etc. 


John  Conkey's 

list  was 

i  as  follo\ 

,vs  : 

Polls 

I 

Tillage  acres 

8 

Dwelling  house 

I 

bushels  of  Rye 

4 

Horses 

I 

Indian  Corn 

30 

Oxen 

2 

Oats 

14 

Cows 

4 

Orcharding — acres 

1 4 

Sheep 

13 

Sydor — barls 

5 

Swine 

[ 

Abo  wing — acres 

14 

Pasturing  a  Cow — 

acres. 

4 

Tons  of  hay 

12 

Keeps  Cows 

2 

P. 

A.TRICK  Peebles  List. 

Polls 

3 

Wheat— Bushels 

3 

Dwelling  Houses 

Rye— Bushels 

31 

Oxen 

4 

Indian  Corn— Bushels 

40 

Cows 

7 

Oats — Bushels 

60 

Sheep 

30 

Orchard— Acres 

zi 

Swine 

Cyder— Barrells 

26 

Pasturage— Acres 

3S 

.Mowing — Acres 

35 

Keeps  Cows 

Tons  of  hay 

-5 

Tillage  Acres 

15 

Barley — Bushels 

i\ 

Peas— Bushels 

5 

Thomas  Lowdex. 

Polls 

I  not 

rateable 

Tillage 

2 

House 

I 

I  Corn— Bushels 

16 

Horse 

I 

.Mowing  Acres 

3 

Cows 

~ 

Tons  hay 

2 

William  Gray. 

Polls 

3 

Tillage 

14 

D-House 

I 

Rye 

60 

Horses 

I 

Indian  Corn 

25 

Oxen 

4 

Oats 

60 

Cows 

7 

Orchid 

I  acre 

Sheep 

10 

Barrels  Sider 

6 

Pasture 

II 

Mowing  land                17 

acres 

Keeps  Cows 

4 

Tons  Hay 

12 

TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


Thomas  Cochrax— Envoyce. 


lOJ. 


Mowing  Land  Acki 

•s 

15 

Cape  one  Hors 

Pols 

one 

Sedr  Barls 

12 

Dweling  House 

one 

Indn  Corn  Bushels 

17 

Hors 

one 

Reay  Bushels 

21 

One  York  of  Oxen 

Ots  Bushels 

S 

Cows 

4 

hey  tons 

ID 

Swine 

5 

P'astr  one  per  ackr 

Sheep 

8 

Swamp  Hay  tons 

3 

Orchard  one  Acker 

and  tb 

ire  quai 

■ters  Peas  l5ushels 

5 

John  : 

Peebles. 

Poles 

I 

Tilig 

7 

Horses 

2 

Corn  Indon 

12  B 

Houses 

I 

Wheat 

25  B 

Oxen 

2 

Oats 

13  B 

Cows 

8 

Syder  Barls 

10 

Sheep 

18 

Mowing 

18: 

Swin 

0 

Tons  of  Hay 

12 

Pastor 

13  acrs 

Mowing  Land 

8—10 

Keeps 

8  cows 

Jonathan  Gray. 

Pasture  acres 

14 

Tons  of  Hay 

6 

Keeps  Cows 

5 

Fresh  Meadow  hay 

2 

Polls 

I 

Tilige  acres 

7-2- 

D  House 

I 

Rye  bushels 

4 

Horses 

2 

Indian  Corn  bushels 

20 

Oxen 

2 

Oats 

16 

Cows 

3 

Orchard  acres 

2 

Sheep 

9 

Sydor 

20 

Swine 

' 

Mowing  land 

II 

Robert  Maklam. 

Howses 

I 

Wheat 

15 

Horses 

2 

Rie 

IS 

Oxen 

6 

Orchard  land  acres 

i^ 

Cows 

0 

Syder 

9 

Sheep 

10 

Mowing 

17 

Swine 

0 

tons  0  hay 

IS 

Pasturing  acres 

9 

Oats  bushels 

31 

Keeps  Cows 

Money  at  interest     ^i 

7s  ID 

tilige  acres 

7 

Polls 

I 

Corn  bushels 

53 

:o4 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Poul 

hours 

Oxen 

Cows 

Swine 

Sheep 

one  house  2  roms 

Orched — Ackers 


William  G 

illinor's  Invoice. 

I 

S  cider— Barls 

13 

I 

Mowing  land — ackers 

15 

2 

Tillage— ackers 

9 

6 

Corn — Bushels 

30 

I 

hay  touns 

17 

peaster — ackers 

2 

I 

Keeps  cows 

2 

May  ye  19  1760  &  c. 


Thomas  Johnson. 


Poles 

2 

Tons  of  hay,  about 

13 

House 

I 

Oats  about  (bushels) 

25 

Oxen 

3 

Wheat 

2i 

Cows 

5 

Indian  corn 

30 

Sheep 

26 

Horses 

Swine, 

4 

Pastring  for  4  cows 

4 

Rie,  (bushels)  about 

19 

Orchard  acres 

i^ 

Cyder-Barrels 

32-i 

Mowing  land  acres 

20 

Tillage  about  ji  acres 

ih 

John  Clark. 

Poll 

I 

Pastrage  (acres) 

5 

Dwelling  house 

I 

Keeps  cows 

3 

horse 

I 

Plow  land  acres 

5 

Oxen 

2 

Mowing  land  acres 

iS 

Cows 

5 

Tons  of  hay 

12 

Sheep 

9 

Rye— bush 

3 

Orchard  acres 

I 

Indian  Corn 

30 

Cyder  barls 

II 

Swine 

4 

Oats — bushels 

ID 

James 

Fergerson. 

Pole 

I 

Rve     bush 

6 

DweUing  house 

I 

Wheat  " 

7 

Horse 

I 

Indian  Corn 

2 

Cows 

3 

Oats 

6 

Tillig  land  (acres) 

5 

Mowing  land — acres — 

8 

Tons  of  hay 

6 

John 

Anderson. 

Polls 

Orchard — acres 

3-i 

D  House 

Mowing        " 

5 

horse 

Rye     Bushels 

15 

Cows 

Indian  Corn 

18 

Tons  hay 

TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


Pools 

House 

Horses 

Oxen 

Cows 

Tons  of  hay 


Pool 
Horses 
Cows 
Sheep 
Tons  of  hay 


James  Thomson. 

2  Swine 

I                Tileg-  land — acres 

3  Rye     Bushels 

5 

10 
20 

4                 Corn         " 

6                Mowing- land — acres 

[6 

70 
i6 

Robert  McKee. 

I                Plow  land     acres 

1  Mowing  land  " 

2  Indian  corn  bush 

2 

3 

Rye 

3 

Alexander  Turner. 


Pelham  ye  30"'  April  1760 
Three  acres  of  orcharding  produces  14  Barrels  yearly. 
12  acres  of  Mowing  produces  8  tuns  of  hay  yearly 
8  acres  and  a  half  of  tillage  produces  20  Bushels  of  Rey 
30  bushel  of  Indian  Corn  and  15  bushels  pettates  yearly 
2  acres  of  pasteridge  Keeps  2  cows  yearly — 
Stoke— one  youk  of  oxen,  3  cows,  i  hors,  6  sheep. 
2  Polls,   I  Dwelling  house 


Thomas  Hamilton,  Jun. 
Hors     I 


Polls 


Polls 
Hors 
oxen 
cows 
sheep 


The  name  attached  to  this  list  cannot  be  determined. 
Pols  I  Sheap 

hors 
oxen 
cows 
swine 


James  Ston. 

I                Mowing  land  acres 

7 

1                 twilig  land 

6 

2                 tuns  of  hay 

9 

2                corn    bushels 

25 

6                Rie 

20 

0                oats 

8 

0 

moing  land  acres 

9 

0 

tilig  land 

2 

2 

tons  hay 

4 

0 

fresh  meadow 

William  Conky. 
I  Pool,  I  Hors,  2  oxen,  4  Cows,  5  acres  plough  Land,  6  acers  Mowing  Land, 
4  tune  hay,  30  bushels  "Ingen  Corn — 20  bushels  English  Grane — Wheat  17^ 
bushels,  Rye  2^  bushels— a  true  acounte  to  the  best  of  My  Judgment. 


io6 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


James  Coxkv. 


I     Pool 

3     acres  plow  land 

I     Hous 

4     acers  Mowing  ] 

Land 

2     Cows 

lo     Bushels  wheet 

2     Horses 

4     tuns  hay 

6     Sheep 

John 

Gray's  Ixyoice. 

Poals 

I 

Inden  Corn 

25 

Dwelling 

hous  iSx24 

I 

Rie 

12 

Horses 

I 

Oats 

iS 

Cows 

3 

Ackers  of  Tillag 

3 

Sheep 

8 

Ackers  of  Moaging 

6 

Swine 

2 

J< 

3HX 

Edgar. 

Polls 

I 

Rye 

9 

Hous 

r 

Indian  Corn 

20 

Oxen 

2 

Orchard 

I 

Cows 

2 

Tuns  of  Hay 

3 

Swine 

3 

Mowing  Land  acres 

6 

Tillage 

4h 

J< 

)HX 

Croser. 

Polls 

2 

Wheat 

4 

Dwelling 

Hous 

I 

Rye 

16 

Horse 

I 

Oats 

8 

Oxen 

2 

Mowing  Acres 

6 

Cows 

4 

Paster   Acres 

3 

Swine 

4 

Tons  of  Hay 

6 

Tillage 

7 

ROSANXA 

.  Petesox. 

Dwelling 

House 

I 

Mowing 

5 

Horse 

I 

tons  hay 

2 

Cows 

I 

Paster  keep  Cows 

I 

Tilege 

i 

John  M( 

:Farlaxd. 

polls 

I 

Tillage  5  acers 

5 

Dwelling 

House 

I 

Mowing 

9  acres 

Cows 

2 

Tuns  Oi  liay 

4 

Orched  i 

acer  h 

S6 

J 

AMES  Hood. 

Pols 

I 

Corn 

20  Bushels 

hous 

I 

Wheat 

3  Bushels 

.horses 

I 

Rie 

ID  Bushels 

TOWN    MEETINCx    RECORDS. 


107 


Oxen 

2 

Oats 

3  Bushels 

Cows 

9 

Orchard 

I  acer 

Sheep 

5 

Syder 

3  Barls 

Swine 

I 

Moing 

9  aCres 

Pastor 

I 

Money          ^24—6 

.— S 

Pfeed 

I  Cow 

Tons  hay 

10 

Tilig 

5  aCers 

James 

Harkxess. 

Dweling  House 

I 

Horses 

2 

Pols 

2 

Oxen 

2 

Mowing-  Land 

l4-i 

Cows 

6 

Tons  Hay 

1 1 

Swine 

I 

Tillege 

3 

Sheep 

17 

Pastridge 

6 

Wheat 

10 

Keeps  Cows 

3 

Rye 

12 

Orchard 

1-2 

Indian  Corn 

60 

Sydor 

I 

Oats 

20 

Not  attested 

Recorded 

Isaac  Gray. 

Polls 

I 

Wheat 

17 

Horses 

I 

Rye 

5 

Dwelling  house  16  x 

19 

Indian 

30 

Oxen 

2 

Orchard — Acer 

Cows 

4 

Sydor  Barels 

12 

Sheep 

9 

Mowing 

12 

tillage 

3 

Hay  tuns  English 

10 

James 

Halbert. 

Polls 

I 

Sheep 

6 

Horse 

I 

Swine 

I 

Cow 

I 

Money  at  Interest 

;/;22-IO-IlA 

Tho.mas 

Hamilton". 

Dwelling  House 

I 

Fresh  Meadow 

6  acres 

Poles 

2 

Orchard 

2  acres 

Oxen 

4 

Inden  Corn 

60  Bushels 

Cows 

•       5 

Wheat 

ID  Bushels 

Sheep 

Rie 

4  bushels 

Swine 

2 

Oats 

35  Bushels 

Horse 

I 

English  Hay 

S  Tuns 

tillage 

6  acres 

Fresh  Hay 

4  Tuns 

English  Moing 

12  acres 

Sydor 

20  Barals 

Paster  6  acres  capable  to  paster  13  Cows 


loS  HISTORY    OF    PELHAJNI,    l^IASS. 

David  Cowdex. 

Dwelling- hous                           i  tilidg  Land  acres  7 

Pole                                            I  of  Mowing  Land  acres  7 

Hors                                           I  of  rye  bushels  14 

Cows                                          2  of  Corn  bushels  19 

Oxen                                          2  of  barley  bushels  3 

Sheep                                         2  Oi  oats  bushels  25 

Swine                                         3  Orchard  Acres  2 

Of  hay  bracks  and  bushes — tuns  6 

Margaret  Thusten. 

Dwelling  house                          i  tillige  5 

Pols                                              2  Corn  30 

Horse                                           i  Key  4 

Oxen                                            2  Mowing  land  8 

Swine                                           4  Hay  6 

Ester  Alexander. 

Polls  not  Rateable                  i  Tillage  i 

Dwelling  House                       i  Oats  10 

Horse                                           i  Orchard  aCres  i 

Cows                                            4  Sydor  8 

Pasture                                        4  Mowing  7 

Keeps  Cows                              2  Tuns  of  Hay  5 

Alexander  McNitts'  Iwoice. 

Pools                                            I  Moyaing  Land  6 

Dwelling  house  19  by  26  tillage  land  3 

Oxen                                            2  Indin  Corn  25 

Cows                                            3  Kie  10 

Sheep                                         10  tons  of  hay  3 

Per  Jxo  Young. 

A  Just  and  true  acount  of  what  I  have  that  is  rateable  to  the  best  of  my 
knowledge. 

I     Poll  2     Horses 

three  acres  of  paster  r     Cow 

One  of  Mowing  Drags  to  the  \'alue  of  ^50—00—0 

Jaems  Sloan. 

Polls                                             2  tilige  4 

houses                                          I  Corn                                      22 

Horses                                          i  orchard  sider  3 

oxen                                              2  Mowing  13 

Cows                                             6  tons  of  hay  13 

Sheep                                         33  Ray  8 

Swine                                            i  Wheat  o 

Pastridge                                     o  Oats  11 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


109 


John 

LiXSEV. 

Pols 

I 

tillage  6  acus 

House 

I 

Inen  Conn 

30  B 

Horse 

I 

Wheat 

7B 

Oxen 

2 

Ray 

16  B 

Cows 

2 

Oats 

20  B 

Swine 
Pastridge 

2 

Orchad  1  S 
Hay 

1  B 

ID  tone 

Keeps  I  Cow 

Money 

£^^~ 

Archibald 

Croset's  Invoice. 

Poals 

I 

Ackers  of  tillige  land 

5 

Dwelling  house 

19  by  37 

Ackers  of  orchard 

3 

Horses 

2 

Buchels  of  Corn 

45 

Cows 

3 

Buchels  of  Rie 

20 

Sheep 

13 

Buchels  of  oats 

23 

Ackers  of  Mowing 

Land      12 

Barrels  of  Sider 

3 

tuns  of  hay 

9 

Edward 

Selfridge. 

Poles 

I 

Orchard  acres 

i4 

Dwelling  hous 

I 

Cyder  Barrels 

4 

Horse 

I 

Mowing  acres 

14 

Oxen 

2 

Hay  tons 

7 

Cows 

4 

Barley  bushells 

2i 

Swine 

3 

Oats  Bushels 

8 

tillage  acres 

ii4 

pasturage  acres 

I 

Indun  Corn  Bushe 

Is              28 

Keeps  a  cow  half 

Rye  Bushels 

26h 

Peas  iX:  oats  bushels 

12 

Oliver  Selfridge. 

Pelham  May  ye  19th  1760 
Of  Mowing  an  acre  and  quarter — i  tun  of  hay 
Of  Corne  land  one  acre — ten  Bushels  corne 
Of  new  land  three  quarters  of  an  acre — three  Bushels  of  wheat 
One  horse  one  Cow  one  hog 


Cows 
Swine 


Margerett  Kidd. 

2  tuns  hay 

I  Syder — barls 


Nearly  all  of  the  grains  enumerated  in  the  invoices  were  used  as 
food  by  the  settlers,  and  they  certainly  had  plenty  for  home  consump- 
tion. Only  four  men  returned  money  at  interest,  and  only  one 
includes  potatoes  among  his  crops  for  taxation. 


no  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

James  Hood,  James  Halbert,  John  Linsey  and  Robert  Maklem 
returned  money  for  taxation,  the  aggregation  of  surplus  capital  of 
these  four  men  for  which  they  were  honest  enough  to  return  for  tax- 
ation was  ;^6o-4S.-7d.-3far. 

These  men   were   probably   looked  up  to  with  the  same  feeling  of 
awe  and  fear  as  working  men  of  to-day  regard  the  modern  millionaire. 
The  independent  and   original  spelling  of  each  of  the  tax  payers 
has  been  retained  in  copying  the  invoices  and  is  interesting.     On  the 
back  of  each  scrap  is  endorsed   the   word    "Recorded"  and   some 
have  also  the  word  "  attested,"  indicating  that  some  of  the  tax-payers 
made  oath  to  their  invoices  while  others  did  not.      Only  a  few  of  the 
farmers  remembered  to  date  their  schedules  after   making  them  out. 
From  these  invoices  of  thirty-eight  men  and  four  women  we  learn 
that  these  forty-two    farmers  had  given  in  for  taxation,  after  only 
twenty-two   years  had    passed   away    since  they  bargained  for  this 
tract  of  wild  land,  the  following  list  of  personal  property: 
42  Horses,  375  Bushels  of  rye, 

137  Cows,  256  "  oats, 

61  Oxen,  833  "  corn, 

132  Sheep,  140  "  wheat, 

56  Swine,  53  Barrels  of  cider, 

284  Tons  of  hay. 

The  list  of  invoices  may  not  be  complete  for  the  whole  town,  but 
it  is  all  that  it  has  been  possible  to  find  of  such  an  early  date.  They 
are  written  upon  small  scraps  of  paper,  some  of  them  only  two  or 
three  inches  square,  the  printed  copy  of  William  Gilmore's  invoice 
being  a  fair  sample  of  all,  and  one  of  the  few  in  the  package  bearing 
a  date.  James  Conkey,  James  Hood,  Thomas  Lowden,  John  Gra}-, 
John  Conkey,, Patrick  Peebols,  William  Gray  and  Alexander  Turner 
were  among  those  who  drew  home  lots  in  1739,  and  their  farms  can 
be  located  by  referring  to  the  plan  of  the  town.  The  others  whose 
invoices  are  given  it  is  impossible  to  locate,  as  they  came  to  town 
after  the  drawing  of  home  lots  and  purchased  lands  or  farms  already 
under  cultivation,  or  had  taken  up  new  lands  by  purchase  of  original 
settlers. 

The  first  census  of  Pelham  was  taken  in  1765  and  the  number  of 
inhabitants  at  that  time,  twenty-six  years  after  the  drawing  of  home 
lots  in  1739,  was  '^^^h'  37^-     Consequently  it  is  fair  to  assume    that 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  Ill 

there  were  not  more  than  300  men.  women  and  children  in  the  town 
when  the  foregoing  invoices  were  given  in  for  taxation.  As  small 
families  were  tlie  exception  and  large  ones  the  rule  in  those  days  it 
is  evident  that  the  list  of  invoices  comes  much  nearer  being  a  full  Wit 
of  farms  at  that  time  than  otherwise.  Allowing  seven  persons  for 
the  forty-two  farms  or  families  represented  and  it  comes  close  to  a 
complete  list  of  the  taxable  property  in  1760. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  2,   1761. 

Then  Meet  and  was  Chosen 

Thomas  Dick,  Moderator. 

Town  Clerk — John  Dick 

Treasurer — Allexander  McColloch 

Selectmen — Thomas  Dick,  David  Houston,  David  Cowden,  Robert 
McColloch,  John  Dick 

Assessors — Thomas  Dick,  William  Crosett,  John  Dick 

Surveyors — Isaac  Gray,  Thomas  Hamilton,  Allexander  Conkey, 
George  Petteson,  William  Harkness,  John  Blair,  Allexander  McCol- 
k)ch,  Allexander  Turner. 

Constables — William  P'ergerson,  John  Peebles 

Wardens — John  Crawford,  Robert  Meklem 

Fence  Viewers — John  Croser,  William  Conky 

Hog  Reeves^ — Aaron  Gray,  William  Gray 

Deer  Reeves — Isaac  Gray,  James  Turner. 

Meeting  Sept.  S,    1761. 

^^£i-j-Gs-Sd  was  voted  to  Repair  the  Bridge  on  the  West  Branch 
to  Make  it  Passable — said  work  to  be  done  this  fall. 

^6-1  OS  was  voted  to  send  a  man  to  Pennsylvania  after  a  Minister. 
Voted  that  the  scole  be  continued  the  whole  year." 

Annual  Meeting,   March   i,   1762. 

Then  meet  &  First  Was  Chosen 
Hugh  Johnson  Moderator 
Town  Clerk — John  Dick 
Treasurer — Thomas  Dick 


112  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Selectmen — Hugh  Johnson,  James  Cowan,  Robert  Meklem,  George 
Petteson  &  Isaac  Gray 

Assessors — John  Hamilton  juner,  David  Cowden  &  Hugh  Johnson 

Constables — Mathew  Gray  and  John  Gray  Jn' 

Surveyors — James  Thompson,  Daniel  Gray,  Thomas  Cochran, 
Patrick  McMullen,  William  Harkness,  Joseph  Rinken  &  Robert 
McColloch. 

Fence  Viewers — Allexander  McNutt  &  James  Turner. 

Hog  Rives — James  Thompson  iSr  \\'illiam  Edger. 

Wardens — Hugh  Holland  &  William  Conkey. 

Voted,  by  the  town  that  the  selectmen  take  Care  of  Sarah  Davison 
Three  Months  at  the  Towns  charge. 

"Protest — We  the  Subscribers  Enter  our  Protest  against  ye  vote  of 
The  Town  taking  care  of  Sarah  Davison  Three  months. 

George  Cowan,     James  Cowan." 

Rev.  Mr.  McDowell  was  preaching  in  Pelham  at  this  time  but  no 
minister  had  been  settled  since  Rev.  Mr.  Abercrombie's  dismissal  in 
1754,  and  the  town  had  been  presented  at  court  for  this  neglect,  as 
will  be  learned  by  action  at  the  meeting  August  iSth,  which  follows: 

Warrant  for  a  Meeting  August  18,  1762. 

'•First  To  See  if  ye  Town  Will  Chuse  a  agent  or  Agents  to  appear  for  said 
Town  and  Answer  the  Presentment  of  the  Grand  Jury  to  be  Considered  at 
tlie  Xixt  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be  Held  at  Springfield 
in  &  for  the  said  county  on  the  Last  Day  of  August  Current  for  Wickedly 
&  Willingly  Neglecting  to  provide  themselves  of  an  orthodox  Minister  for 
the  three  years  Last  Past  Contrary  to  Law."" 

Thomas  Dick  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  important  meeting  and 
action  on  the  first  article  resulted  as  per  record. 

''First  \'oted  that  Capt  John  Savige  is  Chosen  agent  to  Represent 
the  Town  to  answer  to  the  Presentment  at  the  General  Sessions  of 
the  Peac  at  Springfield  ye  Last  Tuesday  of  August  Currant."' 

The  fifth  article  in  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  Sept.  21,  1762,  is 
copied  herewith  : 

"Fifthly,  To  have  thj  Town  Consider  Whetlier  they  will  chuse  a  Agent 
to  Sue  out  &  Present  a  Write  Csheray  in  order  to  Revers  the  Last  Judg- 
ment of  Ye  Court  of  Sessions  that  the  town  of  Pelliam  settle  a  Minister 
as  the  law  Directs  by  Nixt  Novemlier  Court  and  in  Case  they  Don't  the 
Court  Shall  Do  it  for  them  ^:c. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  II3 

James  Harkness  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  meeting  and  when 
the  fifth  article  was  reached — the  record  says — 

"  Fifthly  Voted  that  there  is  Nothing  Acted  on  the  fifth  article  of 
the  Warrant." 

"De  Rex  vs.  Pelham.    Last   Tuesday  of  August  Court  of   Ses- 
sions.   1762. 

The  Grand  Jurors  for  Our  Soverign  Lord  the  King  for  the  body  of  the 
County  of  Hampshire  do  on  their  oaths  present  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Pelham  in  s"*  County  for  the  space  of  three  years  last  past  have 
voluntarily  omitted  &  Neglicted  to  provide  themselves  of  an  able  and 
learned  and  orthodox  Minister  of  good  conversation  to  dispense  the  Word 
of  God  to  them  and  that  the  said  Inhabitants  during  all  the  term  aforesaid 
have  voluntarily  and  wickedly  neglected  to  take  due  care  for  the  procuring 
and  settling  and  Encouragment  of  such  Minister  among  them  which  neglect 
of  said  Inhabitants  is  Contrary  to  the  Law  of  this  Province  in  such  Case 
provided  the  Peace  of  Said  Lord  the  King  his  Crown  and  Dignity  which 
presentment  was  made  at  the  last  term  of  Court  and  signed  Nathaniel 
Kellogg  foreman.  And  now  comes  before  the  Court  the  said  Inhabitants 
of  Pelham  aforesaid  by  John  Savage  Gent'°  their  Agent,  and  being  put  to 
plead  and  answer  for  the  Presentment  they  say  they  are  in  Nothing  guilty 
thereof  and  of  this  they  put  themselves  on  the  Country.  A  jury  being 
sworn  according  to  Law  to  try  the  issue  between  our  Soverign  Lord  the 
King  and  the  Defendants — after  a  full  hearing  on  their  oaths  say  the 
Defendants  are  Guilty. 

It  is  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  said  Inhabitants  of  Pel- 
ham aforesaid  do  provide  themselves  of  an  able  learned  orthodox  minister 
of  good  conversation  to  dispense  the  Word  of  God  to  them  by  ye  next  term 
of  this  Court  at  the  farthest  &  they  pay  the  Costs  of  Prosecution  &c." 

Tuesday  Nov.  9"^  1762. 

Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  upon  presentment  made 
against  Them  for  being  destitute  of  a  Minister  &c  and  of  which  they  were 
found  guilty  at  a  Trial  before  the  Court  at  the  last  term  thereof,  were 
ordered  to  provide  Themselves  of  an  able  learned  orthodox  minister  of 
good  Conversation  to  dispense  the  word  of  God  to  them  by  this  Term  of 
ye  Court  at  the  furtherest  and  it  hath  not  yet  been  certified  to  this  Court 
whether  they  have  performed  s''  Order.  It  is  therfore  ordered  by  this  Court 
that  the  s'*  Inhabitants  of  Pelham  be  summoned  to  appear  before  his 
Majesty's  Justices  at  the  next  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be 
held  at  Northampton  &c  that  they  may  show  to  ye  Court  what  they  have 
done  in  Obedience  to  the  fore  recited  order  etc.  Summons  was  made 
accordingly. 

De   Rex  vs.  Pelham    Feb  S  1763. 
The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  who  were  Summoned  to  appear 
at  this  Court  pursuant  to  the  summons  which  was  made  for  this  purpose 


114  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

agreeable  to  the  order  of  this  Court  at  the  last  Term  thereof  to  testify  to  the 
Court  what  they  have  done  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  the  Court  at  their 
last  term  in  August  last  now  Come  before  the  Court  by  John  Savage  their 
Agent  and  offer  to  show  to  the  court  that  they  have  endeavored  to  Comply 
with  the  said  order  last  abovesaid  and  this  Court  having  heard  the  said 
Inhabitants  as  to  their  attempts  to  perform  the  s**  order  and  the  Court  being 
satisfied  that  they  have  been  endeavoring  a  compliance  with  the  same  and 
it  also  appearing  to  the  Court  that  the  s'^  order  be  not  fully  performed  the 
said  Inhabitants  are  still  pursuing  such  Methods  as  may  effect  a  performance 
thereof.  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the  Matter  be  continued  to  the  next 
term  of  Court  that  the  Court  May  further  advise  and  determine  therein. 
And  it  is  also  ordered  that  said  Inhabitants  pay  ye  cost  of  the  prosecution 
heretofore  and  now  carried  on  against  them  in  the  premises,  taxed  at  five 
Pounds  19-7  &  that  the  Execution  be  awarded  accordingly. 

De  Rex  vs.  Pelham  1763. 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Pelham  who  were  summoned  to  appear 
at  this  Court  the  last  term  tliereof  to  testify  to  the  Court  what  they 
have  done  in  Obedience  to  the  Order  of  the  Court  at  their  Terra 
in  August  last  now  come  before  the  Court  by  John  Savage  their  Agent 
and  offer  to  Show  to  the  Court  that  they  have  Endeavored  to  Comply 
with  the  s''  Order  last  above  said  and  this  Court  having  heard  the  s''  Inhabi- 
tants as  to  their  Attempts  to  perform  the  s''  Order  and  the  Court  being  sat- 
isfied that  they  have  been  endeavoring  a  CompHance  with  the  same,  and  it 
also  apearing  to  the  Court  that  tho  the  s'^  Order  be  not  fully  performed  the 
s*^  Inhabitants  are  still  pursueing  such  Methods  as  may  effect  a  performance 
thereof.  It  is  therefore  ordered  that  the  matter  be  Continued  to  the  Next 
Term  of  this  Court  that  the  Court  may  further  advise  and  determine  therein 
— And  it  is  also  ordered  that  the  s''  Inhabitants  pay  ye  Cost  of  the  Prosecu- 
tion heretofore  and  now  carried  on  against  them  in  the  premises  taxed  at 
19-7  and  that  the  Execution  be  awarded  accordingly. 

.May  8'"  1763. 

De  Rex  vs.  Pelham  Aug.  30  1763. 

It  being  now  fully  certified  to  this  Court  that  tlie  Town  of  Pelham  have 
settled  a  Minister  agreeable  to  an  order  of  this  Count  at  a  former  Session 
thereof.  It  is  ordered  that  they  be  not  further  held  to  Answer  respecting 
that  Matter.  It  is  also  ordered  that  the  Execution  be  Issued  for  the  Costs 
therefor  taxed  against  the  Said  Town. 

Illegal  Killing  Deer  in  Pelham  in   1763. 

Killing  deer  in  defiance  of  law  and  in  disregard  of  the  deer  reeves  _ 
chosen  by  the  town  was  the  cause  of  quite  a  number  of  Pelham  men 
paying  the  penalty  at  the  bar  of  the  court  as  is  shown  by  the  court 
records  which  we  copy. 


town  meeting  records.  ii5 

"  De  Rex  vs.  Cowan,  Court  of  Sessions,  Feb.  8,  1763. 
John  Worthington  Esq  attorney  to  our  Soverign  Lord  the  King  in  this 
behalf  here  instantly  informs  and  gives  this  Court  to  understand  that  James 
Cowan  the  Second  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  yeoman,  at  s"^ 
Pelham  on  the  sixth  day  of  January  last  past  did  wittingly  and  willingly  Kill 
one  Grown  wild  Deer  and  then  and  there  had  in  his  possession  the  raw  flesh 
and  raw  skin  of  the  same  Deer  Contrary  to  one  Law  of  this  Province  in 
that  case  made  and  provided  against  the  Peace  of  .the  said  Lord  the  King 
his  Crown  &  Dignity.  And  now  comes  before  the  Court  the  said  James 
(being  held  by  recognisance  for  this  purpose)  and  being  put  to  plead  to  the 
foregoing  Information  he  pleads  that  he  is  guilty. — The  Court  having  Con- 
sidered of  the  offence  do  order  that  the  said  James  pay  a  fijie  of  ten  pounds 
lawful  money  to  be  the  one  moiety  thereof  to  his  Majesty  for  the  support  of 
the  Government  &c  &  the  other  moiety  of  the  same  to  William  Boltwood  of 
Amherst  Gent'"  the  original  Informer  in  this  case,  and  costs  of  Prosecution 
taxed  at  one  pound  3-8.  The  said  James  Declaring  here  in  this  Court  his 
inability  to  pay  said  fine,  It  is  further  ordered  that  he  be  disposed  of  in  Ser- 
vice to  any  of  his  Majesty^  subjects  for  ye  space  of  two  Months  from  ye 
time  of  ye  Sale  of  said  James — standing  Committed  &c 

Sold  for  25  ■'         (Shillings) 

There  were  several  cases  of  the  same  kind  tried  in  the  same  court, 
and  among  them  was  James  Halbert  of  Pelham.  Halbert  was  con- 
victed and  being  In  no  better  condition  to  pay  his  tine,  he  was  dis- 
posed of  in  service  for  two  months  for  30  shillings. 

We  learn  from  the  cases  of  Cowan  and  Halbert  that  the  deer 
reeves  made  a  business  of  watching  for  deer  slayers  and  when  they 
obtained  positive  evidence  against  a  man  they  made  it  known  to 
some  sheriff  who  complained,  arrested  the  offenders  and  when  con- 
victions resulted  the  sheriff  and  the  informer  received  half  of  the  fine. 
If  the  poor  fellows  who  were  convicted  of  killing  deer  could  not  pay 
the  fine  their  services  were  sold  for  several  months  to  the  highest 
bidder.     So  it  was  with  Cowan  and  Halbert. 


Il6  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 


From  1763  to  1776. 


Call  of  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  to  Settle  iniySj. —  Objectors 
Thereto. —  War?img  of  Objectionable  Families  to  Leave  Town. — 
Penning  the  Meeting-house  in  iy66. — Allotment  of  Pews. — Dis- 
agreement With  the  Shutesbury  Selectmen  About  Town  Lines  in 
lydg. —  Town  Vendue  in  lydg. — Death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Graham  in 
J771. — Rev.  Andrew  Bay  Supplies  the  Pulpit  1772. — Patriotic 
Respo?ise  to  the  Boston  Committee  of  Correspondence,  1773. — 
Call  to  Rev.  Nathaniel  Merrill  in  November,  1774. — Letter  of  a 
Pelham  Man  in  the  Army  at  Charlestown,  1775. — Committee  of 
Safety  Chosen  1776. — Handbill  From  the  Court  for  Independ- 
ency 1776. 


Meeting,  Jan.  24,  1763. 

In  the  warrant  for  this  Meeting  were  these  important  articles  : 

First,  To  take  into  consideration  whither  they  will  Settle  a  Gospel 
Minister  under  and  in  Subjection  to  the  Authority  of  the  Presbyterie 
— Whose  Authority  we  are  at  present  Professed  Subjects  to  Com- 
monly Called  Boston  Presbyterie. 

Secondly  whether  they  will  choose  Mr.  Richard  Crouch  Graham 
who  at  Present  Supplys  the  Pulpit  in  this  town,  to  be  the  Gospel 
Minister  above  Described. 

"  Thirdly,  What  Incouragement  the  Town  of  Pelham  will  be 
Pleased  to  Give  Him  to  Settle  Amongst  them  as  to  a  Present  Settle- 
ment. 

Forthly  What  His  Annuall  Mentainance  or  Yearly  Sellary  Shall 
be  While  he  Remains  our  Minister  acording  to  the  above  Presbi- 
tarel  Establishment. 

William  Crosset  was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  and  the 
record  informs  us  that  the  town  "  First  Voted  that  the  first  Article  is 
Concord  With  as  it  is  Mentioned  in  the  Warrant. 

Secondly  Voted  that  Richard  Crouch  Graham  is  to  be  thare  Gos- 
pel Minister  as  is  above  Discribed. 


\V.    AI.LKX  S    .MIL 


S.    F.   ARNOLD'S    RESIDENCE. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  II7 

It  was  voted  to  call  Richard  Crouch  Graham  to  settle  with  them 
and  iJ"ioo  lawful  money  voted  to  him  if  he  should  accept  the  call. 
They  also  voted  that  his  salary  should  be  ^60  a  year. 

Not  all  were  satisfied  with  this  action  however,  for  Thomas 
Cochran,  James  Taft,  Joshua  Gray,  Mathew  Gray,  Joseph  Rinkin, 
James  McConel,  David  Cowden,  John  Stevenson,  William  Clark, 
John  Dick,  John  Blair,  Oliver  Selfridge,  William  Fergerson,  Aaron 
Gray,  James  Harkness,  William  Harkness,  William  Selfridge,  James 
Fergerson,  Ephraim  Cowan,  William  Gray  and  Moses  Gray  pro- 
tested against  the  action  of  the  majority  in  calling  Mr.  Graham.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  William  Fergerson,  John  Dick  and  James 
Fergerson  protested  against  the  action  of  the  town  in  voting  to  settle 
Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  as  their  minister,  and  twenty  years  later 
we  find  them  protesting  against  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Graham,  which 
can  but  prove  that  the  chronic  objector  was  not  unknown  at  that 
early  day. 

Meeting,  Feb,   15,   1763. 

At  a  town  Meeting  on  the  15"'  of  February,  1763,  the  selectmen 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  "  Employ  Workmen  to  finish  repairs  on 
the  Meeting  House  as  fare  as  the  Stoof  will  finish,"  and  Mathew 
Gray  was  allowed  five  shillings  and  four  pence  for  "Warning  Curtis 
Clemens  &  his  wife  out  of  the  Town."  Patrick  Rebels  was  allowed 
"  One  Shilling  &  Three  pence  for  Making  a  foot  Lock  for  John 
Davison."  John  Gray  was  allowed  five  Shilling  &  four  pence  for 
"  Warning  the  Widow  Elisebeth  Queen  out  of  Towai." 

James  Pebels  was  allowed  "  one  Shilling  for  taking  care  of  John 
Davison  an  insane  man."  William  Conkey  was  "  Allowed  Four 
Shilling  &  Eight  Pence  for  going  to  Oxford  for  Mr.  Cambel,"  who 
probably  was  a  "  Supplyer  "  for  the  pulpit.  David  Cowden,  Hugh 
Johnson  and  John  Hamilton  were  allowed  12  shilling  and  6  shilling 
respectively  for  work  taking  the  Invoice,  and  John  Gray  was  allowed 
^6 — 15s — I  id  for  the  same  kind  of  service.  Voted  Robert  Maklem 
£1  —  1 8s  and  John  Alexander  12  shilling,  all  for  the  very  honorable 
business  of  "  Boarding  Ministers." 

At  a  Meeting  on  the  3''  of  May,  1763,  ;^2o  addition  was  voted  to 
Mr.  Graham's  salary,  but  the  addition  was  not  to  become  a  tangible 
fact  until  the  year  1766  and  to  make  it  more  tantalizing  the  additional 


Il8  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

vote  reads  "And  to  Pay  four  Pound  at  the  End  of  every  three  Year 
Till  Said  Addition  be  Paid." 

In  a  warrant  for  a  Meeting  Dec.  2,  1763,  the  following  article 
appeared  :  First,  to  see  if  the  town  will  agree  upon  a  time  when  Mr. 
Graham's  Salary  should  commence, — and  it  was  voted  that  the  selary 
should  commence  at  the  time  of  his  ordination. 

At  a  Meeting  Jan.  20,  1764,  ^8  was  voted  for  the  support  of 
Thomas  Lowden,  and  the  General  Court  was  petitioned  for  liberty 
to  sell  lands  of  Elinor  Gray,  who  had  already  been  assisted  by  the 
town  and  £^ — 7  s  was  allowed  for  her  support  that  year.  The  poor 
woman  died  not  long  after  and  had  no  further  need  of  lands  or 
assistance  from  the  town. 

The  ordination  of  Mr.  Graham  had  taken  place  and  the  bills  had 
been  reported  to  the  town,  and  the  allowances  made  as  follows  : 
"John  Gray  is  allowed  £6 — 17s — 6d  for  Charges  at  Ordination  time, 
and  £1 — 7s — 6cl  for  His  trouble  at  Ordination  time."  Elisibeth 
Clark  is  allowed  4s  for  "Tendance  at  ordination  time."  John  Gray 
was  allowed  ^5  —  17s  "for  Boarding  ye  Ministers."  James  Turner 
had  an  allowance  of  8s  for  boarding  two  ministers  ordination  time, 
and  John  Savige  12s  for  "  Pastring  Horses  Ordination  time." 

Meeting,   Feb.   2,   1765. 

It  is  quite  probable  that  the  meeting  house  had  been  without  pews 
up  to  this  time,  though  doubtless  there  were  enough  benches  to 
accommodate  the  people  on  Sundays  and  at  the  frequent  town-meetings, 
but  better  accommodations  were  at  hand,  as  witness  the  following 
vote,  dated  February  2,  1765  :  "Seventhly — Voted  that  the  Whole 
body  of  the  Meeting  House  is  to  be  made  in  Plain  Pews." 

In  some  way  inhabitants  that  were  not  acceptable  persisted  in  com- 
ing into  the  town,  for  at  an  adjournment  of  this  same  meeting  to  the 
4th  of  March  following,  James  Halbert  was  allowed  3s.  for  "Warning 
Benjamin  Whitney  &  his  Wife  out  of  this  Town." 

Daniel  Gray  was  elected  "  Surveyor  of  wheat  for  the  ensuing  year 
in  1765." 

We  learn  also  that  a  new  house  had  been  erected  for  Rev.  Richard 
Crouch  Graham,  and  "that  there  is  a  two  Rode  Road  Established 
from  ye  two  Rode  Road  South  of  Mr.  Graham's  new  House  by  s'' 
House  to  the  County  Road. — Consented  to  by  R  Crouch  Graham 
March  4   1765." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  Iig- 

The  above  is  given  to  show  how  indefinitely  many  of  the  roads- 
were  laid  out  and  consented  to,  rendering  it  almost  impossible  at 
this  late  day  to  locate  them  or  even  to  make  a  fairly  good  guess  where 
they  were  or  where  they  led  to. 

Sept.  23,  1765.  Two  pounds  were  voted  to  buy  weights  and 
measures  and  William  Fergerson  was  chosen  sealer  of  these  very 
necessary  articles  for  the  year  1765. 

Meeting,  Feb.  2S,  1766. 

John  Dick  was  allowed  10  shilling  for  sending  for  the  temporary 
acts  for  twenty  years  past,  and  as  Andrew  Shaw  and  family  were 
objectionable  people.  Robert  Hamilton  was  allowed  3s  for  "  Warn- 
ing them  out  of  the  town  and  recording  the  warrant." 

This  seems  to  prove  that  some  legal  process  was  resorted  to  in 
ridding  the  towui  of  new  settlers  that  did  not  come  up  to  the  stand- 
ard that  had  been  set  up.  Action  upon  the  ninth  article  of  the  war- 
rant for  this  meeting  is  recorded  as  follows  :  "  Voted  that  the  Town 
H.as  agreed  on  a  Method  to  Pew  or  Repair  the  Meeting  House 
and  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  to  lay  out  the  Grounds  in  the  Meet- 
ing House  Round  the  Sids  of  Said  House, — Said  Committee  is 
Thomas  Dick,  John  Hunter  and  John  Dick.  The  two  Dicks  were 
carpenters,  and  were  the  builders  of  the  Meeting  House  and  com- 
petent men  to  have  on  a  committee  to  "  Pew  "  the  house.  ;^ioo  was 
voted  for  the  work. 

Meeting,  March  27,   1766. 

It  was  voted  that  twenty-seven  Pews  be  built,  twenty-four  below 
and  three  in  the  front  Gallery.  It  was  also  voted  "  that  two  familys 
is  to  sit  in  one  Pue,"' — Voted  that  Said  Pens  is  to  be  divided  by  two 
years  of  the  old  Invoice  &  the  Last  Inventory, — Voted  that  the 
two  highest  in  the  Rats  Draw  the  Highest  Pew, — So  on  agreeable  to 
this  Method  till  the  Whole  is  Comprehended. — Voted  that  the  Men 
that  Draws  Said  Pews  Give  Nots  of  Hand  to  the  treasurer  for  said 
Money  &  Said  Money  to  be  paid  a  year  hence. 

Thomas  McMuUen  Entered  his  protest  against  the  action  above 
recorded. 

The  Meeting  of  March  5,  1767  had  little  of  note  beyond  allowing 
money   for    services    rendered    to    the    town.     David    Cowden    was- 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    IMASS. 


Pew  No.     I- 

-^6 

"          "           2- 

-Z6- 

3" 

-i:5- 

'•       "        4- 

-£s 

"      "       5- 

-£5 

"      "       6- 

-£5- 

u            ..              ^_ 

-£4- 

^'       "       8- 

-£4- 

"       "       9- 

-£4- 

"          "        lO- 

-£a- 

allowed  5s  for  "  Making  Stocks,  Lock  and  Kie,"  for  which  they  had 
-doubtless  found  use. 


Allotment  of   Pews. 

The  Appraisal  of  the  Meeting  House  Pews  was  made  by  Thomas 
Dick  and  Archibald  Crossett,  March  28,  1766.  They  also  made 
the  allottment. 

■iSs,  Patrick  McAIuUen.  Thomas  Johnson. 

COS.  Patrick  Peebles,  John  Peebles. 

IDS,  Daniel  Gray,  Alathew  Gray. 

23.  James  Berry,  James  Thompson. 

■IS,  Robert  Maklem,  William  Gilmore. 

DOS,  Thomas  Dick,  James  Sloan. 

i8s,  George  Pettison,  William  Gray. 

•I2S,  John  Dick,  James  Hood. 

IDS,  John  Savige,  James  Harkness. 

■Ss,  Hannah  Lothridge,  John  Gray. 
"       "      II — .2^4 — 6s,  Robert  King,  William  Crossett. 
"      "      12 — £d, — cos,  Ichabod  Crossett,  Thomas  Hamilton. 
"      "      13 — £0 — 14^1  John  Blair,  Thomas  Cochran. 
"      "      14 — £t, — I2S,  John  Hunter,  Isaac  Gray. 
"       "      15 — i^3— los,  Robert  McCulloch,  Hugh  Johnson. 
"       "      16 — £2) — 6s,  Alexander  Turner,  David  Cowden. 
"       "      17— Z3 — 2S,  William  Harkness,  James  Dunlap. 
"      "      iS — £^ — IS,  John  Conkey,  Elizabeth  Selfridge. 
"      "      19— ^3 — 00s,  Jonathan  Gray,  John  Clark. 
"      "     20—^2—153,  William  Fergerson,  John  Stevenson. 
"      "     21— /2 — IDS,  Andrew  Maklem,  Alexander  Conkey. 
"       "     22 — £2 — Ss,  Ephriam  Cowan,  John  Lucore. 
"       "      -'i—£- — 2S,  John  Gray  Jun,  James  Taylor. 
"      "     24 — £2 — COS,  David  Huston,  Alexander  McCulloch. 
"       "      25 — ^i — iSs,  James  McConel,  John  McCartney. 
"      "     26 — ^1—175,  Sarah  Cowan,  James  Cowan. 
"       "      -7 — £^ — 00s,  John  Lindsay. 

The  above  allotment  did  not  satisfy  the  people  however  and  it  was 
sometime  before  it  was  finally  .settled.  At  a  Meeting  on  August  6, 
1769  "It  was  voted  that  the  elderly  Men  and  their  Wives  be  seated 
in  the  front  part  Seats  Below,  Provided  they  clear  them  on  Sacra- 
ment Days. — Voted  that  the  front  seats  all  round  the  Gallery  be 
seated  by  the.  Present  Valuation,  and  only  the  Heads  of  familys  sit 
in  said  Seats. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  12  1 

August  31,  1767  Alexander  Conkey,  Clerk  of  the  Market  acknowl- 
edged the  reception  from  the  selectmen  of  the  various  Weights  and 
Measures  and  gave  a  receipt  for  them. 

Meeting,  March  31,   1768. 

March  31,  176S  "Robert  Hamilton  was  allowed  3s  for  One 
Gallon  of  Rum  for  Raising  the  Bridge,  "and  John  Peebles  jun  is  for 
"  Making  a  branding  iron  for  the  town."  Nov.  16  of  the  same  year, 
Samuel  Hyde,  James  Gilmore  and  George  Thompson  were  voted 
"  Liberty  to  build  a  Pew  over  the  Women's  Stears,"  and  James 
Campbell,  Andrew  Hamilton,  James  Cowden,  William  Cowden, 
David  Conkey  Jun,  John  Harkness,  John  Maklem  and  Jonathan 
Hood  were  voted  liberty  to  build  a  pew  over  the  "  Men's  Stears." 
From  other  matters  of  record  it  appears  that  the  persons  to  whom 
these  liberties  were  voted  were  young  men  who  wished  seats  in  the 
Meeting  House  for  their  own  special  use. 

April  II,  1799.  It  was  voted  that  the  Town  Pew  be  moved  to 
where  it  tirst  stood  and  the  Nixt  Pew  be  as  Large  as  the  town  Pew 
and  the  Corner  Pew^  to  have  the  rest  of  the  ground.  John  Dick, 
Hugh  Johnston  and  Archibald  Croset  were  chosen  to  provide 
shingles  to  finish  Roof  of  the  Meeting  house  and  to  Luploy 
Workmen  to  Do  Said  \^'ork. 

In  the  town  records  for  the  }ear  1769  is  the  following  entry  which 
shows  that  the  trouble  about  the  north  line  was  still  unsettled. 

Pelham,  March  the  twenty  third  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixty  nine.  Pursuant  to  a  Notification  issued  by  us  the  subscribers 
Selectmen  of  Pelham  Requiring  the  selectmen  of  Shutesbury  meet, 
us  at  the  Northwest  Corner  of  the  township  of  Pelham  and  from 
thence  pramble  the  line  Between  Said  towns  have  attended  Said 
Service  the  Day  above  written  and  there  meet  John  Child  and  Silas 
Wild  Selectmen  of  Shutesbury  and  Preambled  said  Line  until  we 
came  against  the  Land  of  John  Chamberline  and  there  said  Child 
and  Wild  refused  further  to  Preamble  said  Line  also  giving  the  line- 
from  thence  Eastward  not  to  be  the  true  Line  Between  said  towns. 
Robert  Makle.m,  William   Conkey,  David  Cowden, 

Selectmen  of  Pelham. 


122  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Mee]-ing,  March  24,    1769. 

Pelham  March  the  24  One  Thousand  seven  hundred  and  Sixty 
Nine.  Pursuant  to  a  Notification  Issued  by  us  the  Subscribers — 
■  Selectmen  of  Pelham  Requesting  the  Selectmen  of  the  District  of 
New  Salem  to  Meet  us  on  the  North  Line  of  the  township  of  Pelham 
aforesaid  where  the  townships  of  Shutesbury  and  New  Salem  meet 
with  said  North  line  of  Pelham  have  attended  said  service  and  there 
meet  with  Lieut.  Foster,  Isreal  Richardson  and  Jeremiah  Ballard 
selectmen  of  Said  District  the  Day  above — Said  Selectmen  of  Said 
District  Refused  to  Preamble  the  North  line  of  Pelham  with  us 
Alledging  the  line  we  Claimed  as  the  North  line  of  the  township  of 
Pelham  was  Not  the  true  line  of  said  township  but  verbally  agreed 
with  us  that  upon  a  true  copy  of  the  Grant  of  the  Equivalent  Land 
being  Procured  so  as  thereby  to  obtain  a  certainty  of  the  North  East 
Corner  of  said  Equivalent  Land  that  they  would  extend  a  line  from 
thence  Due  West  Point  of  Compass  the  line  between  said  towns. 
Robert  Maklem,  William  Conkey,   David  Cowden, 

Selectmen  of  Pelham 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  document  which   bears  the  heading  : 

"  Town  Vendue. 

Sold  at  Publick  Vendue  at  ye  Meeting  House  of  Pelliam   ye  26  of   Oct'"' 
1769  to  ye  Persons  Under  Named  Said  Sums  Set  Down  in  old  tenor  viz. 

Patrick  Peebles  2  heaps  of  Shingles 
And"  Ebercrombie  Three  heaps  of  Shingles 
Ebenezer  Gray  one  heap  of  Sliingles 
Eisha  Divenport  two  heaps  of  Shingles 
Tho=*  Johnston  one  heap  of  Shingles 
William  Conkey  one  thousand  of  Nails 
Joseph  Rinken  one  thousand  of  Nails 
Patrick  Peebles  one  thousand  of  Nails 
Tho'  Johnston  one  thousand  of  Nails 
William  Conkey  one  thousand  of  Nails 
And"'  Meklem  one  thousand  of  Nails 
And"'  Ebercrombie  one  thousand  of  Nails 
Patrick  Peebles  seven  hundred  of  Nails 
John  Conkey  Jun  one  Binch 
Patrick  Peebles  two  Plank 
Hugh  Johnston     "         '• 
Patrick  Peebles  Nine  Joyce 
John  Dick  Joyce 
Joseph  Rinken  Plank 

£\-j — 06  —00 
George  Pattisox  \'endue  Master."' 


Coo- 

-19s 

— ood 

01- 

-07 

-06 

00- 

-15 

—GO 

01- 

-19 

—06 

01- 

-12 

—  GG 

01- 

—00 

00 

00- 

-19 

—  GO 

01- 

-GO 

— OG 

01- 

-00 

—GO 

01- 

-03 

— OG 

ot- 

-00 

—  00 

01- 

—02 

OG 

00- 

-17 

OG 

00- 

-ID 

00 

00- 

-07 

— OG 

00- 

-07 

— GG 

00- 

-ID 

—GO 

00- 

-09 

GO 

00- 

-09 

— OG 

TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 23 


Paid  p.v  Dick,  Old  Tenor. 


rco- 

-17s 

-o6d 

00— 

-10    ■ 

—00 

co- 

-15 

— 00 

02- 

-00 

— 00 

02- 

-CO 

—00 

Paid  in  Cash  by  John  Dick  to  Thomas  Dick  for  Rum 
Paid  by  John  Dick  in  Change 
Paid  Hamilton  for  Rum 
Troble  Vendue  Days 
For  Collection 

Old  tenor  town  Money  ^6 — 02  — 06 

The  town  vendue  12S  years  ago  seems  to  have  been  quite  a  social 
occasion  judging  from  the  quantity  of  liquor  purchased  by  town 
Clerk  John  Dick  wdth  the  town  funds  for  use  at  that  gathering. 
Just  how^  the  town  came  to  have  so  many  heaps  of  shingles  and  so 
many  thousands  of  nails  that  they  felt  it  necessary  to  sell  to  the 
highest  bidder  is  not  so  easily  determined,  but  probably  the  Meeting- 
house had  been  given  a  new  roof  after  thirty  years  of  service  by  the 
first  roof  that  had  been  placed  upon  it,  and  these  heaps  of  shingles 
and  thousands  of  nails  were  left  over  and  were  distributed  to  those 
in  need  of  them  at  vendue. 

Meeting,  July  12,  1770. 

The  matter  of  additions  to  Rev.  Mr.  Graham's  "  Sallery  "  came  up 
for  further  consideration  at  a  Meeting  held  July  12,  1770,  and  it  was 
reaflfirmed  by  vote  that  the  bargain  was  as  follows  :  "  That  theie 
was  to  be  a  Standing  Addition  to  Mr.  Grahams  Sallery  of  four 
Pounds  at  the  End  of  Every  three  Years  till  it  x\mounts  to  from 
Sixty  Pound  to  Eighty  and  there  to  Stand  while  he  remains  our 
Minister."  In  January,  177 1,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  "Call  the 
Men  to  an  Account  that  had  the  care  of  the  Town  Stock  of  Ammu- 
nition." Osborn  Brown  and  family  were  warned  out  of  town  in  that 
same  year,  and  James  Hunter  was  allowed  the  legal  fee  of  three 
shilling  for  executing  the  order. 

Meeting,  April  16,  1772. 

The  record  of  a  town  meeting  on  the  16'^  of  April,  1772,  has  the 
following  singular  entry  :  "  Voted  that  Widow  Graham  Supply  the 
Pulpit  Four  Sabbath  Days."  Rev.  Mr.  Graham  died  on  the  25"'  of 
February,  1771,  in  the  32'' year  of  his  age  and  in  April,  1772,  this 
vote  requiring  Widow  Graham  to  supply  the  pulpit  four  Sabbaths 
was  passed.     As  there  were  no  women  preachers  in  those  days,  we 


124  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

cannot  believe  that  Mrs.  Graham  was  to  supply  the  pulpit  by  preach- 
ing herself,  and  are  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  from  her  own  scanty 
means  she  was  expected  to  pay  the  expense  of  a  "  Supplyer  "  for 
four  Sabbaths. 

The'  following  September  a  Meeting  was  held  and  it  was  "  Voted 
That  the  Selectmen  is  impowered  to  give  Thomas  Johnson  a  order 
on  the  Treasurer  for  the  Charge  of  the  Funerul  when  Mr.  Graham 
was  buried,  Which  is  £i — i8s — 5d,"  also  "  voted  that  Thomas  Dick, 
James  Harkness,  Thomas  Cochran,  William  Crossett,  John  Dick 
and  Robert  Hamilton  be  a  Committee  with  the  Elders  to  treat  with 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Bay  for  a  further  trial  in  order  for  a  settlement ;  " 
but  as  no  Mr.  Bay  was  ever  settled  he  either  did  not  grant  the 
further  trial,  or  a  further  trial  was  unsatisfactory.  Yet  on  the  14* 
of  October,  1772,  it  was  "  Voted  that  there  is  Eighty  Pound  granted 
for  the  Reverend  Mr.  Andrew  Bay  by  way  of  Settlement,  provided 
he  settle  Among  us." 

Meeting,  March,  1773. 

In  March,  1773,  it  was  "Voted  that  there  is  Sixty  Pound  Granted 
for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  provided  Rev.  Mr.  Bay  don't  settle 
among  us." 

Three  families  were  warned  out  this  year  (1773)  and  John  Alex- 
ander was  allowed  the  fees  for  doing  the  business  and  recording  the 
warrants.  And  at  the  same  Meeting  the  vote  calling  Mr.  Bay  to 
settle  v»as  recalled.  The  history  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bay  episode  forces 
one  to  believe  that  these  people  hardly  knew  their  own  minds. 

Meeting,  Nov.  16,    1773. 

At  an  adjourned  Meeting  held  on  the  16"'  of  November,  1773,  a 
committee  chosen  on  the  9'''  of  the  same  month  reported  as  follows 
in  answer  to  a  communication  from  the  committee  of  correspondence 
in  Boston. 

To  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  Boston,  Gentlemen  : 
We  have  considered  your  Circular  letters  and  are  Not  a  little 
Shoked  at  the  attempts  upon  the  liberties  of  America,  from  Such 
Beginnings  of  Oppression  upon  the  properties  of  the  french  Did  that 
ill  fatted  &  worse  pated  Lewis  the  thirteenth  by  the  Cruel  Craft  of  a 
richlieu  with  Bribes  Lucrative  posts  Underhanded   Treacheries  fines 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 25 

imprisonments  Banishments  &  Most  treacherus  and  Bloody  Masu- 
cries  utterly  sap  the  very  foundations  both  of  civil  and  Religious 
Liberty  and  establish  arbitrary  power  in  that  new  Kingdom  of 
Slaves. 

We  replid  back  also  upon  the  unhappy  Reign  of  the  Stuart  family 
&  bloody  Struggles  to  subdue  a  free  people  to  Nonresistance  and 
Passive  obedience.  We  have  still  a  More  feeling  sense  of  the 
worth  of  our  Liberties  by  the  total  loss  of  them  in  the  conquered 
Kingdom  of  Ireland  When  altho  made  of  the  same  one  Blood  they 
have  a  yoke  of  Iron  Put  upon  there  Necks  &  they  must  Serve  their 
Conquerers  with  as  much  of  their  Money  and  Blood  as  they  are 
pleased  to  demand  and  Sustain  More  Intolerable  oppressions  from 
these  Legislative  Masters  &  Unfeeling  Landlords  than  some  of  the 
Barbarious  Nations  compared  by  the  Ancient  Romans  before  the 
Wars  of  there  Empire. 

This  so  greivous  a  yoke  upon  the  Western  Isle  Avhich  neither  they 
nor  their  fathers  were  able  to  Bear  has  driven  them  by  hundreds  & 
by  thousands  to  bide  a  final  adue  to  their  otherwise  Dear  Native 
Land  &  Seek  a  peaceful  Retreat  from  the  bane  of  Oppressions  in 
this  American  Wilderness. 

Depending  upon  the  faith  of  the  Nation  for  all  the  priviliges 
Charterd  to  the  American  Colonies,  we  Cannot  therfore  but  be 
greatly  Alarmed  at  the  News  of  the  Incroachments  upon  the  Natural 
and  Chartered  Rights  of  this  Province  where  we  have  our  abode. 
We  drained  our  purses  and  Spiled  not  a  little  of  our  Dearest  blood 
in  the  late  War  in  defense  of  our  Gracious  King  against  frainch 
perfidy  and  Indian  Barbarity  in  hops  he  would  be  a  father  to  this 
Country  and  Protect  our  lives  and  all  our  Rights  &:  Liberties.  Nor 
can  we  tamely  Surrender  these  Liberties  Recieved  with  the  Expense 
of  so  Much  Blood  and  treasure  from  Cruel  Saviges  to  the  More 
unnatural  invaders  we  cordially  acquiess  in  Revolution  Principls, 
we  utterly  Detest  a  Popish  pretender  to  the  throne. — We  wish  the 
Illustrous  house  of  Hanover  may  long  sway  the  Brittish  Septer  in 
truth  &  Justice, — we  pray  that  in  Righteousness  the  throns  of  His 
Present  Majesty  May  be  Established  and  be  far  from  oppression  & 
that  he  May  Sit  and  Rule  on  a  Quiet  and  unmolested  throne  in  truth 
&  Rightiousness  till  he  Retorn  at  Last  to  a  More  Glorious  throne 
above.  But  if  When  we  look  for  Judgment  behold  there  is  a  cry  of 
10 


125  HISTORY    OF    PELHAINI,    MASS. 

oppression,  if  the  Glorious  things  Prescribed  for  the  Western  King- 
dom Shall  Extend  there  baneful  Influences  thrae  thus  American 
Territory'' — if  our  money  be  taken  from  us  Without  our  (.'onsent, 
why  not  our  Lands  &  Even  our  lives.  We  fear  Whereunto  these 
things  May  Grow.  But  after  all  the  Detail  of  Greivances  you  Were 
pleased  to  Send  us.  We  are  obliged  in  Justice  &  Gratitude  to 
acknowledge  that  We  have  many  Invaluable  Priviliges  Not  as  yet 
Wrested  from  us  &  we  take  it  as  no  Small  Token  of  the  Divine  Dis- 
pleasure that  we  are  so  far  threatened  &  Deprived  as  we  are  as 
Members  of  the  Community  Both  for  our  own  and  the  General  Good 
we  humbly  offer  as  our  opinions  that  we  Study  to  be  Quiet  iK:  do 
Nothing  Rashly  and  avoid  as  much  as  Possible  the  Reproach  of 
Muttny  as  moving  Sedition,  or  in  any  Degree  hurtful  to  King  or 
Province.  And  let  us  have  Patience  alonger  in  our  humble  Suits  for 
Justice  to  the  British  throne — in  a  Pious  &  Manly  Sense  of  the 
worth  of  our  Liberties. — Still  Struggling  by  Lawful  &  Constitutional 
Measures  to  vindicate  our  Natural  &  Pactioned  Rights  let  us 
do  no  Wrong,  But  Rather  be  wronged  as  we  Learn  by  Doctor 
Sibs  :  that  the  wronged  Side  is  the  Safer  Side.  But  if  at  length  all 
our  Humble  Petitions  for  our  own  Natural  or  Promised  Rights  Shall 
be  baffled  &  Refuge  on  Earth  and  Hops  of  Redress  Shall  fail  us  we 
trust  We  Shall  be  Wanting  in  nothing  in  our  power  by  Laudable  & 
Wholesome  Counsel  to  Unite  With  our  Dear  Countrymen  for  our 
Mutual  Good  and  Shall  Venture  our  Properties  &  Lives  in  Executing 
any  Plan  Pointed  out  by  the  Supreme  Ruler  and  as  the  innate  and 
Principles  of  Self  Preservation  &  love  to  our  Posterity  may  oblige  us. 
— Tho  we  would  not  be  Munnors  &  Complainers  Especially  for 
Wrongs  we  do  not  Suffer,  Nor  Rashly  Speak  Evil  of  Dignities,  Nor 
Represent  those  Called  Benefactors  as  traitors  to  our  Country  Byond 
the  truth  of  facts.  Nevertheless  we  would  unite  our  Testimony 
against  all  the  Real  Greivances  Prescribed  for  us  at  this  or  any  future 
Period,  and  if  things  Should  Eare  Long  Proceed  to  an  unhappy 
Rupture  Betwixt  the  Mother  Country  and  these  Plantations,  which 
Heaven  forbid,  We  are  Not  at  Present  Much  Intimidated  with  that 
Pompous  Boasting  on  the  other  Side  of  the  Water,  Viz.  that  Great 
Brittain  Could  Blow  America  unto  Attorns  as  we  Cosider  the  Sighs 
of  the  oppressed  &  Good  Wishes  of  Milions  in  the  Mother  Country 
to  the  Liberty  and  Weal  Both  of  themselves  and  their  own  flesh, 
their  Beloved  Americans.     We  trimble  not  so  much  for  our  Selves  in 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  127 

that  Case  in  Particular  as  for  the  Rehealim  in  General  and  lest  the 
Pillars  of  State  should  fall  and  we  be  left  to  Shift  for  our  Selves  with- 
out any  Earthly  King  to  Save  us. 

But  we  pray  a  Merciful  Ruler  to  Avert  Such  a  Judgement  and  not 
Suffer  the  things  that  Belong  to  the  Nations  peace  to  be  hide  from 
our  Eyes  so  We  Remain  united  with  our  breathren  in  the  Coirnion 
Cause  of  American  Liberty. 

Robert  Hamilton,  John  Hamilton,  Thomas  Cochran,  David 
CowDEN,  George  Petteson,  Committee. 

Report  of  Committee  Accepted  Nov.   i6,   1773. 

The  above  extraordinary  document  was  submitted  to  the  patriotic 
citizens  of  the  town  assembled  in  town  meeting  at  the  Meeting 
House  on  that  chill  November  day,  and  the  record  of  their  action 
follows  : — 

"Approved  by  vote  of  the  town  without  Contradiction.  It  was 
also  Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  returned  With  the 
above  to  the  Said  Committee  in  Boston  for  their  honest  faithful 
kind  &  Patriotit  Zeal  and  Care  in  Stating  our  Rights  &  Showing  us 
our  Grievances  and  Giving  such  timely  Notice. 

Also  Resolved  at  the  Said  Meeting  that  the  Committee  be  & 
Remain  as  a  Committee  to  Receive  &  Lay  Before  the  town  any 
further  Intelligence  that  May  be  at  any  time  Received  from  Boston 
Respecting  our  Liberties. 

John  Crawford,  Moderator. 
Attest  John  Dick,  Town  Clerk." 

Meeting,  April  7,   1774. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  town  held  on  the  7th  of  April  1774  we  find 
the  following  votes  recorded. 

Hugh  Johnson  was  chosen  Moderator. 

;^7o  voted  for  support  of  the  Gospel. 

£^0  voted  for  the  support  of  Schools. 

;^6o  voted  for  Making  and  Repairing  highways. 

Robert  Hamilton  was  allowed  five  shilling  that  he  lost  in  John 
Clark's  Rats. 

James  Gilmore  was  allowed  four  shilling  for  ''  Warning  Amos 
Whitting  and  family  out  of  this  town." 


126  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

George  Petteson  was  allowed  12  shillings  "that  Docf  Jels  Creach 
Kelog  Charged  for  one  visit  to  James  Hyde  in  the  year  1770." 

Jeremiah  Jackson  was  allowed  2  shillings  for  a  "Warding  Staff." 

Daniel  Gray  was  allowed  ^^5 — 12s  "for  going  to  the  Jersey  Col- 
lege after  a  Minister." 

William  Fergerson  was  allowed  12s  for  taking  care  of  the  Meeting 
House  the  Past  year. 

Voted  that  "  Timothy  Ingram  is  Cleared  of  his  Rats  that  is  in 
John  Alexander's  List."  (on  account  of  sickness  in  his  family) 

Meeting,  Oct.  3,   1774. 

The  town  was  beginning  to  feel  the  pressure  of  British  power 
and  resented  all  attempts  at  oppression.  In  a  warrant  for  a  meeting 
held  on  the  3d  of  October,  1774  was  an  article  reading  as  follows: 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  make  an  addition  to  the  Committee  of 
Correspondants  "  and  James  Harkness,  James  Halbert,  Ebenezer 
Gray  and  Daniel  Gray  were  added  to  that  Committee. 

The  town  had  been  without  a  settled  Minister  since  the  death  of 
Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  in  177  i  and  dependent  upon  "  Suply- 
ers,"  but  on  the  23d  of  Nov.,  1774  a  cali  was  extended  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Merrill  to  settle  as  Minister  of  the  town  and  ^^70  voted 
in  the  way  of  a  settlement  and  _;^8o  yearly  salary  so  long  as  he  con- 
tinued as  their  Gospel  Minister. 

Meeting,    Dec.   27,    1774. 

A  Committee  consisting  of  William  Harkness,  William  Crossett, 
Alexander  McCulloch.  Hugh  Johnson  and  John  Dick  was  chosen 
and  named  "A  Committee  of  Inspection"  whose  duty  was  to  follow 
the  instructions  of  the  Continental  and  Province  Congresses. 

Meeting,  August  28,   1775. 

It  was  "Voted  that  there  is  Preperation  to  be  made  for  the  Instal- 
ment of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill — and  that  said  Preperation  be  for  Min- 
isters and  other  Gentlemen  of  Liberal  Education,  and  that  there  is  a 
Committee  to  be  chosen  to  Provide  for  Said  Gentlemen — said  Com- 
mittee is  Thomas  Cochran,  Robert   Hamilton   and  James  Hall)ert." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 29 

James  Halbert  was  also  chosen  assessor  at  this  meeting  "  In   the 
Room  of  Ebenezer  Gray  now  in  the  War." 

John  Crawford,   Moderator, 

Ebenezer  Gray  is  the  first  town  officer  of  Avhom  we  find  mention  of 
being  in  the  war  early  in  17 75, but  that  there  were  men  from  the  town 
at  the  front  early  in  that  year  is  proven  by  tire  following  letter  which 
we  copy  from  the  original. 

Charlestown,  Agust  the  4th,  1775. 

Frand  Dick  these  Linds  I  write  to  you  and  your  famaly  hoping 
that  they  will  find  you  all  Wall  as  they  Lave  my  Boy  and  I  hart 
hole  heer  all  this  time  thank  God  for  it  and  we  are  all  pretty  Wall 
that  Belongs  to  Pelham  and  as  for  News  you  must  Reed  the  prants 
because  I  cannot  send  you  any  that  is  Sarten  to  Depand  upon  for 
truth  only  you  Need  Not  Bee  afraid  of  the  Daviel  in  Pelham  this 
Summer  for  he  has  his  handful  to  Dow  heer  and  I  know  that  hee  is 
ashamed  of  his  under  taken  Salfridge  is  wall  and  Sands  his  Love  to 
all  Inquiring  frands  Capt  Cowden  Sands  his  Love  to  you  all  !  Excuse 
my  writing  Sir  when  you  Look  on  the  paper  and  Reed  the  above 
Writing  So  Knovv'  more  at  prasant  But  I  Remain  your  Loving  frand 
and  humbul  Sarvant. 

John  White. 

Waltham  Brown  is  Wall — so  no  more 

Sir  go  and  Reed  the  whole  to  my  wife  and  you  will  abladge  me 
much 

Loving  Wife  and  Children — I  hope  that  these  will  find  you  all 
wall  as  they  Lave  us — I  must  Bee  Short!  gat  2  or  3  Bushel  of  Solt  as 
quick  as  you  Can  for  it  will  Bee  Deer  and  what  the  Barn  will  Not 
Winter  the  Sailer  Sail  and  give  them  as  good  a  Chance  as  you  Can 
and  as  for  my  Coming  home  I  Can  Not  if  you  Sant  ten  men  in  my 
Room — Do  as  wall  as  you  Can  So  No  more  at  prasant  But  I  am 
your  Loving  Husban  till  Dath 

John  White 

From  this  above  interesting  letter  we  learn  that  at  the  time  it  was 
written  all  the  men  belonging  in  Pelham  were  well,  which  leaves  us  to 
infer  that  there  was  quite  a  company  of  Pelham  men  at  Charlestown. 
Probably  Capt.  Cowden  and  his  company  of  Pelham  men  were  there. 

Committee  of  Safety  Chosen. 

March  29,  1776,  a  Committee  of  Safety  was  chosen.  Thomas 
Cochran,  John  Hamilton,  George  Petteson,  Ebenezer  Gray,  Peter 
Bennett,  Daniel  Gray  and  James  Dunlap   constituted  this  committee. 


130  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Jonathan  Gray  was  allowed  £1  14s  expense  money  for  bringing  up 
Mr.  Merrill  and  family, — and  Widow  Hamilton  was  allowed  £2  2s 
for  the  journey  of  her  late  husband  to  the  Presbyterie. 

William  Conkey  was  allowed  ^i  for  conveying  provisions  to 
Watertown,  which  without  doubt  were  for  the  support  of  soldiers 
from  the  town,  or  others  in  the  army. 

Up  to  about  this  time  the  selectmen  in  directing  the  constables  to 
warn  the  voters  of  a  Town  Meeting  had  used  the  following  form  : 

HAiMPSHIRE  ss. 

To  John  Rinkin  &  Eliot  Gray  Constables  of  the  town  of  Pelham  within 
the  County  of  Hampshire  Greeting.  You  are  hereby  required  to  warn  & 
give  Notice  to  all  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Pel- 
ham  Duly  Qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs  to  meet  togither  on  the  31  Day 
of  Dec  Current  to  act  upon  the  following  Particulars  &c. 

William    Harkness,   Hugh  Johnsox,  Joxathan   Gray  &  James 
DuNLAP,  Selectmen  of  Pelham. 
Dec.  23.  1776. 

The  tirst  appearance  of  the  new  form  Avas  at  the  next   recorded 
meeting  and  was  as  follows  : 
Hampshire  ss. 

To  Mr  Eliot  Gray  &  John  Rinkin  Constables  of  the  town  of  Pelham 
within  the  County  of  Hampshire  Greeting — You  are  in  the  name  of  the 
People  &  Stats  of  the  Bay  Colony  to  warn  and  give  Notice  to  all  the  free- 
holders and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Pelham  Qualified  to  vote  in 
town  affairs  to  assemble  and  meet  togither  on  Monday  the  17  Day  of  March 
Current, 

Dated  at  Pelham,  March  3,  1777. 

William  Harkxess,  Hugh  Johxsox,  Joxathax  Gray,  James 
DuxLAP,  Selectmen  of  Pelham. 

The  form  was  soon  changed  to  read — "  In  the  name  of  the  people 
of  the  state  of  Massachusetts  Bay"  or  "In  the  name  of  the  people 
of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  "  etc. 

Under  date  of  Jan.  7,  1776  and  with  the  underwritten  marginal 
note  we  find  the  following  : 

Haxd  Bill  from  the  Court  for  Ixdepexdexcy. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives.— A  resolve  of  the  late  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives Passed  on  the  tenth  of  May.  1776  that  the  Inhabitants  of  each 
town  in  this  Colony  ought  in  full  meeting  warned  for  that  Purpose,  to 
Advise  the  Person  or  Persons  who  should  be  Chosen  to  Represent  them  in 
the  Nixt  Genrul  Court,  Whether,  Should  the  Honorable  Congress  for  the 
Safety  of   the    Colonies    Declare    them    Independents  of   the   Kingdom  of 


TOWN    !\IEETING    RECORDS.  131 

Great  Brittain,  they,  tlie  Said  Inhabitants  will  Solemnly  Engage  With 
themselves  and  fortunes  to  support  them  in  the  Measure,  and.  Whereas  said 
Resolve  though  Published  in  the  Public  News  Papers  yet  it  has  since  Been 
Manifest  to  the  Present  House  that  Some  Actions  in  said  Colony  were  not 
so  Seasonably  favored  with  the  said  Points  as  to  have  it  in  their  Power  to 
Instruct  their  Representative  Agreable  to  Advice  in  said  Resolve  had  they 
so  Minded.  So  that  the  General  Assembly  are  unable  to  Collect  the  Senti- 
ments of  Many  towns  in  said  Colony  on  so  Interesting  &  Important  a  Sub- 
ject &  as  towns  who  had  Seasonable  Notice  Have  given  their  Representa- 
tives Instructions  to  Comply  fully  with  the  late  House  aforesaid  Whose 
number  to  the  honor  of  their  Constituents  are  Very  Numerous,  and  as  some 
of  the  United  Colonies  have  of  late  Bravely  Refused  to  subject  themselves 
to  the  tyranical  yoke  of  Great  Brittain  any  longer  by  Declaring  for  Inde- 
pendence— therefore  Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  this  House  that  such  towns 
as  have  not  Complied  with  the  Resolve  Aforesaid  Whither  they  are  Repre- 
sented or  not,  duly  warn  a  town  Meeting  for  such  purpose  as  soon  as  may 
be.  that  their  sentimets  may  be  fully  known  to  this  House  agreeable  to 
fermore  Resolve  of  the  late  House  of  Representatives  &  that  one  hundred 
&  fifty  hand  bills  be  forthwith  Printed  and  Sent  to  such  towns  for  the  Pur- 
pose aforesaid.  By  Order  of  the  House  :  T.  Warren,  Speaker. 
■  By  order  of  this  hand  Bill  We  Have  Warned  &  Given  Notice  to  the 
Inhabitants  of  Pelham  East  &  West  of  the  Cross  Road  Qualified  to  vote  in 
town  affairs  to  meet  according  to  orders. 
Pelham,  June  the  Eighteenth,  1776. 

Elliot  Gray  &  John  Rinken,  Constables. 

Meeting,  June  20,   1776. 

Record  of  the  above  warned  meeting  : 

"  Att  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Pelham  meet  and  Assembled  togither  on  Thursday  the  twentieth 
day  of  June  1776  then  meet  and  first  was  Chosen  Daniel  Gray, 
Moderator.  Secondly,  Voted  by  Unanimous  Vote  that  we  are  willing 
to  Come  Under  Independuncy  from  under  the  yoke  of  the  King  of 
Great  Brittain,  Provided  the  Contnental  Congress  see  fite  in  their 
Wisdom  to  Establish  Independence  in  the  Colonies  for  their  Safety. 

Daniel  Gray,  Moderator. 

That  the  town  had  already  quite  a  number  of  men  in  the  army  is 
shown  by  action  in  town  meeting  on  Dec.  31,  1776,  when  Abizer 
Edson  and  Andrew  Abercrombie  were  chosen  assessors  "  in  room  of 
John  Hamilton  and  James  Caldwell  McMuUen  Gone  to  the  War." 

James  Caldwell  McMullen  and  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  are 
the  first  names  that  appear  on  the  records    with  what  is  commonly 


132  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

known  as  a  middle  name  up  to  this  time.  Hitherto  no  ink  was 
wasted  in  writing  out  long  names  upon  the  books  and  there  was  no 
ambitious  desire  to  bestow  such  names  upon  the  children  born  to  the 
early  settlers.  There  was  not  a  man  among  them  that  was  hampered 
with  a  middle  name.  James  or  John  was  a  common  name  and  con- 
sidered enough  to  place  before  any  surname,  consequently  the 
appearance  of  the  middle  name  must  be  noticed  as  an  innovation. 
If  attention  is  given  to  this  matter  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  middle 
name  did  not  increase  very  fast  and  there  were  very  few  up  to  1800 
and  beyond  that  date. 


From  1777  to  1786. 


Valuation  of  Property  for  Taxation  Established  1777. — Rev.  Mr. 
AlerrilPs  Appeal  177Q. — Large  Increase  of  Salary  1780. — 
Measures  Taken  to  Secure  Men  for  the  Army  1780. — Bounties 
Offered. — Action  Taken  to  Procure  Beef  for  the  Army  1781. — 
Daniel  Shays  on  Committee  of  Safety  1781. — Selectmen  Refuse 
to  Call  a  Town  Meeting  1782. —  Tying  to  Settle  With  the  Three 
and  Six  Months  Men  1783. — Allozvance  to  Soldiers  in  the  Late 
War  178s. — The  Town  Votes  to  Have  a  Bank  of  Paper  Money 
Made  1786. 


April  14,  1777.  "It  was  voted  that  the  East  Hill  School  Quarter 
be  divided  Into  two  Squadrens  Provided  they  build  their  School- 
houses  on  their  own  Cost  Without  any  treble  or  Cost  to  the  town." 

William  Crossett  "  Was  allowed  £\  for  Carring  Down  Provisions 
to  the  army  at  Cambridge  "  and  Hugh  Johnson,  Abraham  Livermore 
and  Alexander  Conkey  were  each  allowed  the  same  amount  for  the 
same  errand  and  journey. 


THE    ROCKIXG    STONE. 


HOUSE    OX    JOEL    GROUT    FARM.  — NOW    OWNED    BV    HENRV    COOK. 


town  meeting  records.  133 

Meeting,  May   12,   1777. 

"May  12,  1777,  it  was  Voted  that  there  is  ;^i8  allowed  to  each 
man  that  Will  Inlist  in  the  Continental  service  for  three  years,''  but 
at  an  adjourned  meeting  this  vote  was  "  Recaled  "  and  it  was  "voted 
that  all  those  men  which  have  served  Personally  or  Engaged  a  man 
in  the  Service  of  the  United  Stats  shall  have  Credit  for  so  many 
months  as  they  have  served  or  engaged  in  said  service." 

Hugh  Johnson  was  moderator  at  a  meeting  Dec.  23,  1777,  when 
the  valuation  of  property  for  taxation  was  fixed. 

20s.  was  laid  on  each  acre  of  home  lot  not  improved,  los.  laid  on 
each  acre  of  third  division,  15s.  on  each  acre  in  second  division,  and 
the  valuation  of  personal  property  for  taxation  was  as  follows  : 


"  One  pair  of  oxen  four  years  old  is 

£iS 

Cows  at  three  years  old. 

£  6 

Steers  at  three  years  old, 

£  6 

Steers  and  Heifers  at  three  years  old, 

£   4 

Yearlings  at 

£  2 

Calves, 

£  I 

Horses  at  three  years  old. 

£^2 

Colts  at  two  years, 

£  6 

Yearling  Colts, 

£  4 

Spring  Colts, 

£  2 

One  Sheep, 

9s. 

Mr.  Merrill's  Salary  Increased. 

April  14,  1777,  ^60  was  added  to  Mr.  Merrill's  salary  in  1778, 
and  the  next  vote  recorded  was  that  rams  be  shut  up  from  the  first 
of  August  till  the  fifteenth  of  November  yearly. 

Meeting,   May   15,    1778. 

May  15,  1778,  "^92-i3s.-2d.  was  granted  for  Clothing  sent  to 
the  Contental  Soldiers,  to  be  assessed  in  the  first  Assessment  assesed 
by  the  Assessors." 

Meeting  Jan.  24,  1779,  is  thus  recorded  : 

"  John  Crawford,  Moderator.  Voted  that  this  meeting  be 
adjourned  to  the  House  of  Joseph  Packard,  Inholder.  Voted  that 
the  Arms  Coming  from  Boston  be  sold  at  Public  Vendue  to  the 
Highes    Bidder,  None  to  bide    But  the    training    band  &  Larm    list. 


134  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    :MASS. 

Voted  that  the  Ammonition  be  Divided  Equally.  Voted  that  the 
steel  be  cut  in  Pound  Peices  &  Sold  at  Public  Vendue  to  the  Highes 
Bidder." 

Meeting,  March  29,   1779. 

The  money  of  the  country  had  evidently  become  very  much  depre- 
ciated, for  at  a  meeting  March  29,  1779,  ^100  was  voted  for  schools 
in  place  of  ;^30  for  the  years  previous  and  it  was  voted  that  each 
pole  be  allowed  $5  per  day  on  the  roads.  ;^2  5o  was  voted  for 
repairing  the  roads  where  ;/J'6o  had  been  the  usual  sum  in  previous 
years. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  on  the  same  warrant  it  was  also  "Voted 
April  16,  1779,  that  the  town  has  agreed  to  have  a  new  Constitution 
formed,  also  Voted  that  they  empower  there  Representative  to  vote 
for  the  calling  of  a  state  Constitutional  Convention  for  forming  a  new 
Constitution.  William  Crossett,  Moderator." 

Meeting,   May   12,    1779. 

In  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  called  for  May  12,  1779,  the  fol- 
lowing articles  appear  after  the  one  for  choosing  moderator. 

'•  Secondly  :  To  see  if  the  town  will  Recall  there  Vote  of  April  16  in  add- 
ing Sixty  Pound  to  Rev.  Mr.  Merrills  yearly  Sallery  as  we  think  it  is  not 
sufficient  to  Mentain  a  Gentleman  and  his  family. 

Thirdly  :  If  the  town  Recall  Said  vote  to  see  what  Honorable  addition 
the  town  will  Pleas  to  add  to  his  yearly  sallerry. 

Fourthly:  To  see  if  the  town  will  Allow  Money  for  those  families  Which 
there  Men  Are  Gone  into  the  Service." 

The  record  of  the  action  of  the  town  upon  this  w^arrant  is  not  long 
but  was  decisive.  On  the  second  article  it  was  "voted  to  recall  the 
vote  of  April  16  of  the  same  year  in  adding  ;/^6o  to  Rev.  Mr.  Merrills 
sallery  for  the  present  year." 

"  Thirdly,  Voted  that  there  is  four  Hundred  and  twenty  Pound 
added  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Merrils  Sallery. 

Lastly  Voted,  that  there  is  Nothing  Acted  on  the  Last  Article  of 
the  Warrant.  Daniel  Gray,  ]\Ioderator." 

The  warrant  for  a  meeting  on  the  4th  day  of  June  of  the  same  year 
is  interesting   and  is  addressed  to  Mr.    James    Peibols  and    Reuben 


TOWN    IMEETING    RECORDS.  1 35 

Lotheridge,    Constables.     The  first  article  is  to  choose  a  moderator, 
and  other  articles  in  the  following  order: 

Secondly  to  See  if  the  town  Will  make  an  Addition  of  Two  Hundred  & 
fifty  Pound  to  the  Highway  Rate  as  we  suppose  there  is  Some  Misunder- 
standing in  the  former  vote,  or  if  note  the  Above  Sum,  any  other  Sum  the 
town  shall  think  Proper. 

Thirdly,  to  See  if  the  town  Recall  there  Vote  of  the  twelth  of  this  Instant 
Granting  the  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  four  Hundred  &  twenty  Pound  Addition  to 
His  Sallery  for  this  present  year  as  it  is  very  burdensome  to  many  who  are 
Groning  under  Heavy  taxes  Already. 

Forthly  to  See  if  they  Will  Agree  to  Mak  the  Addition  by  a  Volentry 
Superscription  for  no  one  Can  Dout  but  how  (who)  have  been  so  free  for 
laying  it  on  in  a  tax  will  be  as  free  in  thare  Superscription— so  that  there 
Dear  Brethren  May  Riceive  the  two  Above  Articles  is  at  the  Requist  of  a 
Number  of  the  Freeholders  of  Pelham. 

Fifthly— if  the  town  will  Recall  the  third  article  of  this  Warrant  &  Don't 
act  on  the  forth  Article,  to  see  what  Honorable  Addition  the  town  will  be 
Pleased  to  Make  to  the  Rev  Mr  Merrills  Stated  Sallery  for  this  Present 
year. 

Hereof  fail  Not  and  Make  Return  to  one  of  us  the  subscribers  sometime 
before  Said  Meeting.  Given  under  our  Hands  and  Seal  Datid  at  Pelham 
May  the  26  one  thousand  Seven  hundred  &  Seventy  Nine  &  in  the  fourth 
year  of  Independence. 

Hugh  Johnson,  Joseph  Packard,  Jonathan  Hood, 

Selectmen  of  Pelham. 

Daniel  Gray  was  chosen  moderator  and  further  action  under  this 
above  warrant  follows:  Under  second  article,  "Voted  that  there  is 
Five  hundred  and  fifty  Pound  Granted  by  Way  of  addition  to  the 
Two  Hundred  &  thirty  Granted  for  Repairing  the  Highways  for  the 
Present  year. 

Thirdly,  Voted  that  there  is  nothing  acted  on  the  third  article  of 
the  Warrant.  Daniel  Gray,  Moderator." 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  third  and  fourth  articles  were  practically 
ignored  and  the  former  vote  of  £Go  addition  to  Mr.  Merrill's  salary 
having  been  recalled,  because  it  was  believed  to  be  much  too  small 
an  addition,  the  newly  settled  minister  Avas  left  with  only  the  original 
salary  voted  at  the  time  of  his  being  called,  the  additional  appropria- 
tion of  £j,-o  with  the  currency  much  depreciated,  and  the  addition 
was  not  paid  for  a  long  time. 

Meeting,  June  25,    1779. 
This  town  meeting  had  nothing  to  do  with   tninisters'    salaries  or 
highway  matters  but  upon  more  important  and  pressing  business. 


136  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  meeting  was  warned  to  meet  at  the  meeting  house,  June  25, 
1779,  and  there  were  only  two  business  articles  in  the  warrant  after 
the  one  for  choosing  a  presiding  officer. 

Article  Second.  To  see  if  the  town  will  come  into  any  Method  to  inable 
Commition  officers  to  Raise  Men  for  the  Contenantal  .Service  &  for  the 
Militia. 

Thirdly  to  see  if  the  town  will  Come  Into  any  Method  to  Make  an  Equal- 
ity throughout  said  town  by  assessment  or  any  other  Method  they  shall 
think  Proper. 

Action  on  the  second  article  of  the  foregoing  warrant : — "  Voted 
that  the  town  is  Come  Into  a  Method  to  Assess  a  sum  of  Money  to 
Raise  the  Present  Quota  of  men  to  be  paid  by  those  that  are  Delin- 
quent in  order  to  bring  Every  Individual  upon  a  Proper  Everidge, — 
the  tax  and  other  Charges  to  be  Raised  in  the  Common  Method  of 
Town  Charges. 

Thirdly.  Voted  that  there  is  a  committee  to  be  Chosen  to  Assist 
the  Militia  Officers  in  Hiring  Men  to  go  into  the  Contenintel  & 
Militia  Service. 

Forthly.  Voted  that  there  is  five  men  to  be  Chosen  as  a  Commit- 
tee to  find  those  men.  Said  Committee  is  Daniel  Gray,  Samuel 
Hyde,  John  Rinken,  Andrew  Abercrombie  &  William  Dunlap. 

Hugh  Johnson,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  Aug.   16,   1779. 

The  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1779,  had 
the  following  articles  : 

"  Secondly,  to  see  if  the  town  will  agree  to  Send  a  Delgate  to  Cambridge 
for  the  Sole  Porpuse  of  forming  a  New  Constitution,  said  Convintion  is  to 
Sit  on  the  first  Day  of  Sept.  Nixt. 

Thirdly,  to  see  if  they  will  chuse  a  Man  or  Men  to  take  Into  Consideration 
the  Prices  of  Marchandise  and  Contry  Produce  and  to  Make  such  Regula- 
tions as  they  shall  think  Proper  to  Act  on. 
Hugh  Johnson,  Josi-:ph  Packard  &  George  Petteson,  Selectmen." 

Action  on  the  second  article  resulted  as  per  record:  "Voted  that 
Joseph  Packard  is  Chosen  a  Delegate  to  Go  to  Cambridge  to  Sit  in 
Convintion  for  the  Sole  Purpose  of  forming  a  New  Constitution. 

Forthly.     Voted  there  is  nothing  acted  on  the  third  article. 

JosiAH  Dunpak,  Moderator." 


town  meeting  records.  t37 

Meeting,  Aug.  27,    1779. 

A  meeting  called  on  Aug.  27,  1779,  was  for  action  on  less  impor- 
tant matters  than  matters  of  state  and  was  to  see  if  the  town  would 
stand  up  behind  its  constables  who  had  sold  land  for  taxes. 

The  second  article  explains  :  "  To  see  if  the  town  will  support 
Adam  Clark  Gray  and  Mathew  Gray,  Constables,  in  an  action  Com- 
menced against  them  by  Obediah  Dickinson  of  Hatfield  for  Selling 
some  of  his  Land  for  taxes." 

"  Thirdly,  to  see  if  the  town  will  chuse  a  man  as  Delegate  or  Delegates  to 
Go  to  Northampton  to  meet  a  County  Convintion  in  order  to  state  the 
Prices  of  Such  County  Produce  &  Marchandise  as  shall  come  before  them 
— and  any  other  article  that  the  town  shall  think  Proper  when  Assembled." 

The  tow^n  ignored  the  second  article  which  involved  the  constables 
by  a  record  as  follows  :  "  Voted  that  there  is  nothing  acted  on  the 
second  article." 

"  Thirdly — Voted  that  Thomas  Johnson  is  Chosen  a  Delegate  in 
Behalf  of  said  town  to  meet  the  Convintion  at  Northampton  the  Sec- 
ond Wednesday  of  September  Nixt. 

Forthly — Voted  that  there  is  a  Committee  to  be  chosen  to  state 
the  Pricese  of  Articles, — Said  Committee  is  Thomas  Johnson,  Peter 
Bennet,  John  Rinkin,  Timothy  Packard  &  Mathew  Clark. 

Hugh  Johnson,  Moderator." 

Meeting,   Sept.   27,   1779. 

The  town  was  called  together  on  the  27th  of  September.  1779,  to 
act  on  the  following  business  : 

"Article  Second  to  see  if  the  town  will  accept  the  Resolves  of  the  Con- 
vintion in  Regard  of  Stating  the  Prices  of  Contry  Produce  or  Not  if  they 
Do  to  order  the  Committee  Chosen  to  state  the  same  in  this  town. 

Thirdly  :— To  see  if  the  town  will  Chuse  a  delegate  to  Go  to  Concord  to- 
a  State  Convintion  for  to  sit  there  on  the  Second  Wensday  of  October  Nixt 
in  order  to  State  the  Prices  of  Marchandise  and  Other  Contry  Produce. 

Forthly  to  see  if  the  town  Will  come  into  Any  Method  to  Inable  the 
Selectmen  to  Provide  Money  to  Get  the  Contenental  Cloathing  &  any  other 
Article  they  shall  think  Proper  when  assembled." 

The  town  acted  as  follows  :  "  Secondly,  Voted  that  the  town  has 
Excepted  the  Prices  of  Sundry  articles  that  the  Convintion  that  meet 
at  Northampton  agreed  on. 

Third'y.  Voted  that  Capt  David  Cowden  is  Chosen  a  delegate  ta 


138  HISTORY    OF    PELHAIM,    MASS. 

Represent  the  town  at  the  Convintion  to  Meet  at  Concord  the  Second 
Wensday  of  October  Nixt. 

Forthly  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  are  allowed  to  Draw  Money 
out  of  the  treasury  to  pay  for  Soldiers  Clothing. 

Isaac  Gray,   Moderator." 

Meeting,  Dec.   10,    1779. 

On  the  loth  of  December,  1779,  the  town  was  called  to  act  upon 
"  the  following  Particulars  at  the  Request  of  Rev  Mr  Merrill,  the  fol- 
lowing articles  with  the  Reasons  are  Set  Down  &c." 

"  Secondly,  As  I  have  Disposed  of  My  farm  to  have  the  Advice  of  the 
town  as  to  Laying  out  my  Money  ornot  for  Another  to  there  Satisfaction. 

Thirdly,  to  know  the  Will  and  Pleasure  of  the  town  Respecting  my  stay- 
ing among  them  or  not,  I  think  its  Noised  by  some  as  if  it  was  not  Desired, 
Maks  me  uneasy  Not  being  Willing  to  Crowd  upon  any  People  and  as  my 
State  is  now  at  Such  Looss  Ends  to  Determine  my  mind  about  laying  out 
my  money. 

Forthly  — if  it  the  Pleasure  of  the  town  I  should  Stay  to  Know  what  the 
town  is  Willing  Chearfully  to  vote  for  my  Support  towards  making  up  my 
Sallery  for  the  Insuing  year  as  I  am  unwilling  to  take  it  but  from  Chearful 
Givers  &  if  they  are  Willing  to  Make  up  my  sallery  as  they  have  Mr  Wil- 
liams and  Mr  Baldwins  and  others  I  will  be  as  free  that  they  shall  take  out 
my  Proportionable  Part  of  Extrorny  Charges  so  that  I  be  no  more  Eurden- 
som  than  when  I  first  Came  amongst  them,  and  as  1  think  its  said  by  some 
as  if  they  were  Deceived  on  aCount  of  my  familys  Circumstances  and  tho  1 
did  What  I  could  that  they  might  not  be  Decieved  even  then  so  I  am  Wil- 
Jing  if  they  are  Dissatisfied  that  they  should  act  thare  Pleasure.  Now 
Undecieved  about  it  &  and  as  my  Last  years  Sallery  is  out  Sometime  Past 
&  the  money  about  spent  togither  with  Sum  Hundreds  of  Pounds  put  in  of 
my  Personal  Estate. 

Fifthly,  to  see  what  the  town  will  alow  Adam  Clark  Gray  and  Mathew 
Gray,  Constables,  to  Compleat  the  Loss  they  have  sustained  by  the  Seal 
(sale)  of  Leu''  Dickinsons  land." 

Action  on  this  warrant  follows  :  "  Voted,  that  there  is  nothing 
acted  on  the  second  article  of  this  warrant. 

Thirdly — Voted  that  there  is  four  hundred  and  twenty  Pound 
voted  as  an  Addition  to  the  Rev  Mr  Merrills  Sallery  for  the  Present 
Year. 

Forthly  Voted  that  there  is  nothing  allowed  Adam  Clark  Gray  & 
Mathew  Gray  Relating  to  the  Case  Between  Leu"  Dickinson  and 
Iheni.  Capt  John  Thompson,   Moderator." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 39 

While  the  town  seems  to  have  been  negligent  in  pajang  Rev.  Mr. 
Merrill's  salary  promptl}',  and  it  had  forced  him  to  draw  upon  per- 
sonal funds  for  the  support  of  himself  and  family,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  the  struggle  for  liberty  was  going  on  in  the  land,  and 
every  town  in  the  state,  including  Pelham,  were  straining  every  nerve 
to  furnish  their  respective  quota  of  men  and  supplies  ;  taxation  was 
frequent  and  heavy  to  raise  money  to  meet  the  many  and  various 
heavy  expenses  of  a  public  nature,  and  it  is  not  strange  that  some  of 
the  demands  for  money  were  not  met  as  promptly  as  they  should 
have  been.  That  the  minister's  salary  was  behind  some  of  the  time 
is  not  surprising  although  the  support  of  the  Gospel  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  important  duties  resting  upon  them  as  a  community. 

The  appeal  of  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  to  the  town  as  recorded  in  the 
foregoing  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  was  evidently  carefully  consid- 
ered and  the  prompt  action  of  the  people  in  town  meeting  assembled 
was  undoubtedly  most  satisfactory  to  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  and  is  cer- 
tainly a  most  agreeable  record  for  us  whose  eyes  are  permitted  to 
scan  the  faded  record  more  than  one  hundred  years  after  the  record- 
ing officer  spread  it  upon  the  book. 

Another    Middle  Name. 

Adam  Clark  Gray  is  the  third  name  that  appears  on  the  books  up 
to  this  time  with  the  middle  name  or  initial.  This  particular  Gray 
and  Matthew  Gray  were  constables  of  the  town  and  in  some  unex- 
plained way  had  involved  themselves  in  loss  of  money  by  selling 
lands  of  Lieut.  Obadiah  Dickinson  of  Hatfield  for  unpaid  taxes.  An 
article  in  the  foregoing  warrant  was  to  see  if  the  town  would  allow 
money  to  these  public  servants  to  remunerate  them  for  their  loss  in 
the  service  of  the  town  but  the  constables  were  doubtless  chagrined 
and  perhaps  angered  when  the  voters  refused  to  act  upon  the  article 
in  their  interest.  They  did  not  give  up  the  fight  for  their  rights  how- 
ever, for  in  the  very  next  warrant  for  a  Town  Meeting  appeared  an 
article  calling  upon  the  town  to  act  upon  this  claim  of  the  two  Grays, 
constables.  Another  article  in  the  same  warrant  was  "  To  see  if  the 
town  will  Come  Into  some  Safe  Method  in  order  to  Stop  the  Collec- 
tion of  the  last  tax  Come  to  Pelham  from  the  State  Treasurer  for  the 
Present  as  we  Suppose  a  part  of  it  to  Rise  from  the  Distribution 
Fleet  at  Pennobscut,  or  any  other  article  the  town  shall  think  Proper 


140  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

to  Act  on  Relation  to  the  same."  The  meeting  was  held  Jan.  28, 
1780.  The  selectmen  were  chosen  a  committee  to  settle  with  the  two 
Grays,  constables,  thus  proving  that  persistence  in  the  right  is  the 
safe  course.  "  Lastly  voted  that  there  is  nothing  acted  on  the  last 
Article  of  the  Warrant. 

John  Thompson,  Moderator." 

Meeting  Feb.   18,   1780. 

The  next  Meeting  was  called  for  Feb.  18,  17S0,  and  the  second 
article  was  "  To  see  what  Method  the  town  vvill  Come  into  to  pay  the 
tax  and  Charges  that  has  Arisen  on  thirteen  lots  that  was  Assessed 
and  put  into  Reubin  Lotheridges  Constables  hands  to  Collect  and  no 
Person  Appearing  to  pay  the  taxes  the  Said  Reuben  Lotheridge 
posted  said  Lots  for  Seal  as  the  law  Directs,  but  Could  not  sell 
them." 

"  Hugh  Johnson  was  Chosen  Moderator  and  it  was  voted  that 
there  is  a  man  or  men  to  be  Chosen  to  Purches  those  Lots  that  Can't 
be  Sold  by  the  Constable  at  Vendue,  Said  Committee  is  Isaac  Gray 
tSc  William  Dunlap.  This  Meeting  is  Continued  by  Agreement  to 
the  House  of  Mr.  Abercrombie  at  four  of  the  Clock  in  the  After- 
noon,— Meet  according  to  the  above  adjourment  and  first  voted  to 
pay  the  tax  &  Charge  that  May  Arise  on  the  Lots  Aftermentioned  to 
wite  Third  Division  No  37,  17,  16,  14,  7,  5,  2.  Second  Division  31 
Third  Division  No.  47  and  Intervening  Charges  that  shall  or  may 
arise  on  Said  Lots  for  the  space  of  three  years  and  to  take  the  Con- 
stables Discharges  if  now  owner  appears  wdthin  said  term  of  time." 

Adjourned  Meeting. 

At  a  meeting  on  March  23,  17S0  "  Three  thousand  pounds  was 
allowed  for  Repairing  of  the  High  Ways  the  present  year." 

This  shows  how  much  depreciation  there  had  been  in  the  value  of 
the  Currency  up  to  this  time.  It  was  also  "voted  that  there  is 
^2000  added  to  Rev  Mr  Merrills  ^^500  for  the  Present  year." 

The  New  Constitution  Submitted  to  the  People  of  Pelham, 
May  9,   1780. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting.  May  9,  1780,  was  one  article 
after  the  one  for  choice  of  a  Moderator  which  was  as  follows  : 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  I4I 

Secondly  to  see  What  sanction  the  Town  Will  Put  on  the  New  form  of 
Government  or  Constitution,  or  any  other  article  the  town  Shall  think 
Proper  to  Act  on. 

Hugh  Johnson,  Jacob  Edson 
Thomas  Johnson,  Samuel  Hyde 
John  Rixken,"  Selectmen. 

The  meeting"  was  called  at  9  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  and  William 
Crossett  was  chosen  Moderator. 

About  the  Second  article  we  find  this  record  : — "  Secondly — that 
there  is  a  Committee  to  be  Chosen  to  Inquire  into  the  New  Con- 
stitution said  Committee  is  Doct  Robert  Cutler,  John  Thomson, 
Thomas  Johnston,  John  (Crawford,  and  John  Hamilton.  This  Meet- 
ing is  continued  till  five  aclock  in  the  afternoon  of  said  Day  May  9'^ 
then  Meet  a  Cording  to  Said  adjournment  &  Continued  by  a  Second 
adjournment  till  Monday  the  twenty  Second  day  of  Said  May  Cor- 
rant  at  ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon  to  Recieve  the  Report  of 
Said  Committee  With  Regard  to  the  New  Constitution.  Meet 
according  To  appointment  &  first  Voted  that  this  Meeting  is 
adjourned  for  one  Hour  to  the  Meeting  house. 

Meet  &  first  Voted  that  Each  Pole  at  the  age  of  Sixteen  years  & 
Upwards  His  a  Right  to  Vote  for  there  officers.  Secondly — Voted 
that  the  New  Constitution  is  Concord  With  Agreeble  to  the  Com- 
mittees Remarks  on  the  same. 

William  Croset,  Moderator." 

The  above  record  shows  that  the  people  of  the  town  promptly 
accepted  the  new  constitution  and  placed  themselves  in  line  with  all 
other  patriotic  communities  in  the  state. 

The  meeting  of  May  22,  1780,  was  for  the  choice  of  a  man  to 
represent  the  town  at  the  great  and  general  court  which  was  to 
assemble  at  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  May,  and  Capt.  John 
Thompson  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  for  the  session  of  1780. 

Meeting,  June   15,   1780. 

June  15,  1780,  the  town  was  called  together  to  consider  the  ques- 
tion of  taking  a  new  Valuation  of  the  "  Rale  and  Personal  Estate," 
and  the  Assessors  were  instructed  to  go  from  "  House  to  House 
Round  the  whole  town  and  make  a  new  valuation." 

Another  important  ciuestion  for  consideration  was  the  choice  of  a 
"Committee  of  Safety"  and   John  Thompson,   Isaac  Gray,  Andrew 


142  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Abercrombie,  Timothy  Packard  and  John  Maklem  were  chosen  to 
act  in  this  capacity. 

Isaac  Gray  was  Moderator. 

The  town  had  been  called  upon  to  furnish  more  men  for  the  army, 
but  just  how  many  is  not  stated  in  the  record,  but  a  town  meeting 
was  called  on  the  20"'  of  June,  1780. 

"  To  see  what  Method  the  town  Will  Come  into  to  Raise  the  Men 
now  Caled  for  into  the  Service.  Thirdly,  to  see  what  encourage- 
ment the  town  Will  Give  Said  men." 

The  action  of  the  town  upon  this  warrant  was  peculiar. 

After  choosing  John  Thompson  Moderator  there  was  an  adjourn- 
ment for  ''  one  Houre  "  and  on  reassembling  "  voted  that  the  Delin- 
quents Raise  the  Present  Cotow  of  Men  Called  for."  "Also  voted 
that  James  Pebles  is  allowed  the  Rats  of  that  Land  that  Reuben 
Lotheridge  sold  at  Public  Vendue.  Lastly,  Voted  that  there  is  No 
Credit  to  be  Sold  by  any  man  in  the  town." 

The  delinquents  were  to  raise  the  men  called  for,  and  nothing 
seems  to  have  been  done  to  encourage  them  to  enlist. 

Meeting  July  3,   1780. 

The  warrant  for  the  Meeting  held  July  3,  1780,  at  one -o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  gives  information  as  to  the  number  of  men  the  town 
had  been  called  upon  to  furnish. 

The  language  of  the  warrant  follows:  "  Secondly- — as  the  General 
Court  has  Called  in  the  Most  Pressing  Manner  for  the  town  of  Pel- 
ham  to  Raise  Seventeen  men  more  than  was  first  Required  and  as 
those  that  Were  Indeted  are  brought  Principly  to  the  Present  Aver- 
ige,  to  see  What  Method  the  town  will  take  to  Raise  said  Men  and 
any  other  article  the  town  Shall  think  proper  to  act  upon." 

The  action  of  the  town  upon  this  warrant  in  answer  to  the  pressing 
demands  of  the  General  Court  for  more  men  we  copy  from  the  rec- 
ord :  "  Voted  that  men  be  Raised  for  the  War  by  Pole  &  Real  & 
Personal  Estate  for  the  Futter  as  other  taxes  is  Raised.  Fifthly 
voted  that  the  Selectmen  is  Impowered  to  Heire  the  Contenental 
Soldiers  as  Chape  as  they  Can — Either  in  Speci  or  Silver  or  Con- 
tenentel  Money. 

Joseph  Packard,  Moderator." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 43 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  for  the  selectmen  to  raise  the  number  of 
men  the  General  Court  had  demanded  as  the  town  was  called 
together  again  August  24,  1780,  to  act  upon  the  matter  of  filling  the 
quota  of  men, — and  the  question  was  placed  before  them  in  the  fol- 
lowing form  : 

"Secondly — To  see  what  Directions  the  town  Will  Give  the  Selectmen 
Concerning  two  Six  months  men  they  Cannot  Raise  by  Hire  nor  by  Draft- 
ing. Thirdly  to  See  what  Method  the  town  will  come  into  to  Raise  Money 
to  Procure  Clothing  for  tlie  Army." 

The  meeting  was  at  once  adjourned  after  choosing  Joseph  Packard 
Moderator,  to  the  6"'  of  September  at  nine  o'clock  a.  m.  and  on 
assembling  on  that  day  it  was  "  Voted  that  there  is  twenty-five 
pound  Granted  to  Buy  Shirts,  Stokens  and  Blankets  for  the  Support 
of  the  Army. 

Secondly,  Voted  that  the  town  Stock  of  Powder  that  is  come  to 
the  town  is  to  be  sold  out  Both  to  the  training  Band  and  Larmlist. 

Thirdly  Voted  that  John  Bruce  is  allowed  three  hundred  &:  four 
Pound  Sixteen  Shilling  for  Lodging  the  Ministers  Presbyterie  Time. 

Fourthly — Voted  that  Joseph  Packard  is  Allowed  two  Hundred  & 
Sixty  four  Pound  six  shilling  for  tending  the  Convention  at  Boston. 

Joseph  Packard,  Moderator." 

FiRsr  Governor  Election,  Sept.  4,  17S0. 

The  Meeting  for  the  choice  of  the  first  Governor  under  the  new 
constitution  was  held  on  the  fourth  day  of  September,  17S0  and  is 
of  interest  as  it  shows  the  number  of  votes  cast  in  the  town.  The 
result  of  the  balloting  is  copied  from  the  report  of  the  meeting. 

''  Made  choice  of  the  Honorable  John  Handcock  Esq  Governor 
for  the  Ensuing  year  by  a  full  vote  containing  Sixty  one  votes. 

Made  choice  of  the  Honorable  James  Bowdoin  to  be  Leu'  Gover- 
nor &  his  son  rly  seven  vots  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  two  vots.  Made 
choice  of  Con'  Bliss  of  Wilbreham  Noah  Goodman  of  South  Hadley 
Caleb  Strong  of  Northampton  Doctor  Mathers  of  Westfield  each 
forty  Vots  for  Counclors." 

The  stirring  times  did  not  allow  the  people  much  rest ;  there  were 
calls  for  men,  for  clothing  and  other  supplies  all  the  time. 

Oct.  20,  1780  the  town  voted  as  follows:  "  Voted  that  the  town 
has  Agreed  to  Procure  the  beef  that  is  sent  for. 


I.|.4  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Thirdly — Voted  that  there  is  a  committee  to  be  Chosen  to  Procure 
Said  Beef.  Said  Committee  is  Caleb  Keeth,  Mathew  Clark  &  John 
Maklem. 

Voted  that  the  Remainder  of  the  old  Stock  that  is  at  William 
Blairs  house  be  sold  at  Publick  Vendue  this  Ivining.  Also  Voted 
Andrew  Abercrombie  is  to  have  the  Care  of  what  is  left  of  the  New 
Stock, — this  meeting  is  continued  till  tusday  nixt  at  three  of  the 
Clock  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Meeting  house  of  said  town  to  Receive 
the  Report  of  Said  Committee. 

Voted  that  the  Above  Committee  is  to  take  care  of  the  Cattle  they 
have  Purchased  &  Deliver  them  to  the  Commisery. 

Joseph  Packard,  Moderator." 

The  raising  of  the  quota  of  men  called  for  had  not  been  accom- 
plished as  we  judge  by  action  taken  at  a  meeting  held  Dec.  21,  1780 
when  it  was 

"  Voted  that  there  be  a  Committee  chosen  to  Procure  these  Men 
Called  for — said  Committee  is  Daniel  Gray,  David  Cowdin  & 
Nathaniel  Samson." 

The  Meeting  adjourned  to  Jan.  4,  1781  to  hear  and  act  upon  the 
report  of  this  committee  when  it  was 

"  Voted,  that  there  is  fifty  Shilling  pr  Month  Granted  by  the  town 
as  a  Bounty  agreeable  to  the  Court  Act.  Ray  at  three  &  four  pence 
pr  Bushel  or  Money  Equivalent  thereto  to  Each  Soldier  that  will 
Inlist  for  three  years  or  During  the  War. 

Secondly — Capt  Daniel  Gray  was  chosen  to  Represent  the  town 
at  the  Convintion  at  Northampton  Provided  said  Convintion  .  Do 
Meet. 

Daniel  Gray  Moderator." 

Meeting  Jan.    18,    17S1. 

A  meeting  held  January  18,  1781  had  one  important  article  in  the 
warrant    as  follows  : 

"  To  see  wliat  xMethod  the  town  will  take  to  Procure  the  beef  Required  of 
tliis  town  Agreeable  to  the  Act  of  the  General  Court  Deated  Dec''  the 
fourth  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty,  or  anj-  other  article  the  town 
Shall  think  Proper  when  Assembled. 

Daniel  Gray  was  Chosen  Moderator,  and  Secondly.  '•\'oted  that 
there   be   a  man  Chosen    to    Go  to    Northampton  to  Enquire  of    the 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  145 

Commisary    what    they  Give    pr  Hundred    In   Money    or  Grain    for 
Beef. 

Thirdly  Voted  that  Capt  Daniel  Gray  is  Chosen  a  Committee  man 
to  Go  to  Northampton  to  Enquire  at  the  Commisary  the  Price  of 
Grain  &  how  he  will  Change  for  Beef.  This  Meeting  is  continued 
till  the  twenty -fifth  of  this  Instant.  Meet  and  then  it  was  voted  that 
there  is  three  hundred  &  Nine  Pound  Granted  to  Procure  the  Beef 
for  the  Continental  Army." 

Meeting,   Feb.  26,   1781. 

At  a  Meeting  held  on  Monday  the  26"'  day  of  February,  17S1  it  was 

"Voted  that  there  is  ;^i2  0o  continental  Money  Granted  for  the 
Support  of  the  Gospel. 

Thirdly  that  Hugh  Johnston  is  allowed  for  Assessing  Rats  twenty 
nine  days  ^^"230  and  John  Rinken  ^208  for  twenty  six  days  assessing 
Rats. 

Fourthly — John  Conkey  is  allowed  fourty  five  Pound  for  taking 
Care  of  the  Meetinghouse  the  past  year.  Ebenezer  Gray  allowed  £c,o 
for  being  treasurer  the  past  year.  John  Maklem  &  Kaleb  Keeth  are 
each  allowed  £2,  7s  for  purchasing  the  beef  for  the  Army. 

Adjourned  to  the  5"'  day  of  March  1781  and  then  Chose  John 
Thompson,  Samuel  Hyde,  Jonathan  Hood,  John  Rinkin  and  Andrew 
Abercrombie  a  Committee  to  "Settle  the  Everidge" — also  voted  that 
ye  former  Committee  viz  Daniel  Gray,  David  Cowden,  Nathaniel 
Samson  is  freed  from  Being  a  Committee  to  Raise  Men  for  the  War. 

Joseph  Packard,  Moderator." 

The  meeting  of  March  5,  1781,  was  the  Annual  Meeting  for  the 
choice  of  officers  and  little  other  business  was  done. 

Anjourned  to  the  9"'  day  of  March  when  Jonathan  Hood,  John 
Thompson,  Daniel  Sheas  and  Aaron  Gray  were  Chosen  as  the  "Com- 
mittee of  Safety." 

The  record  of  this  Annual  Meeting  is  notable  from  the  fact  that 
the  name  of  Daniel  Sheas,  or  Shays,  appears  for  the  first  time  on  the 
town  books  in  the  capacity  of  a  town  officer,  and  shows  that  the  man 
who  a  few  years  later  was  to  become  the  leader  of  a  remarkable  rebel- 
lion against  the  state  government,  was  a  citizen  of  the  town  for  quite 
a  number  of  years  before  the  discontent  took  the  form  of  open  rebel- 
lion. 


146  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Meeting,  Mar.   22,    1781. 

;/^6ooo  was  voted  for  the  repairing  of  highways.  It  was  also 
"Voted  that  there  vote  of  Dec.  21,  1780  granting  the  Soldiers  to  be 
Raised  fifty  Shilling  per  Month  the  old  way  is'  Recald  by  said  town. 
— Voted  that  the  Assessors  is  to  Class  the  town  into  ten  Classes  to 
Raise  the  Soldiers  as  Called  for.  Also  Voted  y"  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  meet  the  Convention  at  Hatfield  the  twenty  seventh 
of  March  Corrant.  John  Crawford,  Moderator." 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1781,  there  was  a  town  meeting  when  it  was 
"  Voted  twenty  three  Hundred  and  twelve  pound  ten  shillings  old 
Contenental  Money  to  be  Assessed  to  Enable  the  treasurer  to  Settle 
with  Rev.  Mr.  INIerrill." 

Meeting,  July  17,   1781. 

The  warrant  for  a  meeting,  July  17,  1781,  had  the  following 
important  articles : 

'■  To  see  what  Measure  the  Town  will  Take  in  the  order  to  Rase  four 
thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty  nine  pounds  of  Beef  for  the  Army  as  quick 
as  it  is  Called  for  in  the  Court  Orders.  Also  to  warn  a  Meeting  to  be  held 
on  said  Day  at  three  o'clock  afternoon  at  the  same  place  of  all  the  Mail 
Poals  of  twenty  one  years  old  and  upwards  to  Make  choice  of  Militie  officers 
that  is  wanting  in  said  town  Acording  to  the  New  Constitution." 

The  above  is  written  in  a  different  hand-writing  from  records  of 
former  meetings,  all  having  been  in  substantially  the  same  hand 
almost  from  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  John  Dick  having  served 
as  town  clerk  thirty-five  years. 

Action  upon  the  above  article  concerning  beef  was  as  follows : 
"  Voted  to  Rase  the  Beef  sent  for  by  the  Court — thirdly  voted  that 
there  shall  be  a  Committee  to  purchis  said  beef.  Committee  is 
Caleb  Keaith,  Alexander  Berry  and  John  McLeane. 

Forthly  Voted  Seventy  five  Pound  in  hard  Money  or  Grain  Equiv- 
olent  thereto  to  Enabel  the  above  mentioned  Committee  to  Purchis 
the  above  mentioned  Beef. 

Fifthly,  Voted  that  the  Bounty  Granted  for  the  six  and  three 
months  men  by  the  Court  which  served  in  the  year  1780  shall  be 
assessed.  John  Thompson,  Moderator." 

•  Meeting,  July  25,   1781. 

"  Voted  to  Raise  Hard  money  to  Purchis  the  Sixth  part  of  Beef 
now  called  for. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 47 

Thirdly  voted  to  Raise  Hard  Money  to  Purchis  the  Second  Sixth 
part  of  s'  Beef.  Caleb  Keith,   Moderator." 

At  a  meeting  July  30,  178 1,  there  were  important  articles  in  the 
warrant,  among  them  this  one  : 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  reconsider  a  vote  passed  April  Last  to  Raise 
^2312  IDS  Contenantal  Money  to  Redeem  a  Note  Given  to  Mr  Merrill  by 
the  Treasurer." 

The  town  assembled  and  Joseph  Packard  was  chosen  moderator. 
The  meeting  was  then  continued  to  Friday,  the  3d  of  August. 
Assembled  as  per  adjournment,  and  another  continuance  or  adjourn- 
ment was  voted  for  "  teen  Minits  "  to  Landlord  Samson's  in  said 
town.  What  this  special  adjournment  to  the  tavern  of  Landlord 
Samson's  was  for  does  not  appear  on  the  record.  We  only  know 
that  there  was  such  an  adjournment  and  on  reassembling  they  passed 
the  following  vote,  and  this  is  all  that  resulted.  "Voted  thirty 
Pounds  to  be  assessed  in  Hard  Money  for  the  supply  of  the  Pulpit.'' 
This  indicates  that  Mr.  Merrill  had  been  dismissed. 

There  was  a  town  meeting  on  the  27  th  of  August,  1781,  with  the 
following  articles  in  the  warrant : 

"Secondly,  To  see  what  the  town  will  do  Concerning  Raising  the  Remain- 
der Part  of  the  Beef  called  for  by  the  General  Court. 

Thirdly,  to  see  if  the  town  will  Reconsider  a  vote  Passed  to  Divide  the 
town  into  two  Compenys  or  Divide  in  any  other  Method  that  the  town  shall 
see  fit — Also  to  warn  Both  the  Train  Band  and  Larm  List  that  they  appear 
at  time  and  Place  to  Chuse  officers." 

"  Voted  that  the  Committee  formerly  Chosen  to  Purchis  the  Beef 
last  Caled  for  from  the  Court  is  to  give  thare  Obligations  for  Hard 
Money  for  s''  Beef. 

Thirdly,  Voted  forty  Shillings  per  hundred  for  the  above  Mentioned 
Beef  if  it  cant  be  Purchased  under. 

Forthly — Voted  to  Recal  a  vote  Pased  on  the  17'''  of  July  Last  of 
Seventy  five  Pound  Hard  Money  or  Grain  Equivolent  to  Purchis 
Beef." 

Meeting,  Oct.  25,   1781. 

The  voters  were  called  together  again  on  the  25  th  of  October, 
1 78 1,  to  consider  the  question  of  beef  and  the  six  and  three  months' 
men.     The  warrant  asked  for  action  on  the  following  particulars  : 

••  Secondly  to  see  what  Method  the  Town  will  take  in  order  to  Purchis  the 
Beef  that  is  Delinquent  for  the  year  1781." 


148  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

"  Voted  to  Chuse  a  man  to  Go  to  the  Superintendant  to  see  about 
an  Execution  supposed  to  be  Against  the  Town  for  Beef. 

Secondly  Voted  Nathaniel  Samson  to  be  the  Man. 

Voted  to  Rase  the  Beef  Called  for  by  the  Superintendant  that  he 
has  a  Execution  against  the  town  for. 

Secondly  Voted  that  Doc'  Nehemiah  Hinds  be  a  Committee  Man 
to  Purchis  s'  Beef. 

Voted  that  this  meeting  is  continued  by  adjournment  twenty 
Minits  to  Landlord  Bruce''. — Meet  According  to  Adjournment  and 
Voted  &:  Chose  John  Bruce  to  Hire  a  three  years  Man  to  serve  in 
the  Continental  Army  for  the  town  of  Pelham. 

Caleb  Keith,  Moderator." 

Nov.  28,  1 78 1,  the  town  was  called  together  and  after  voting  that 
"the  Selectmen  shall  not  Give  out  Orders  to  the  six  and  three  month' 
men — and  that  then-  shall  be  a  Average — the  meeting  was  Continued 
to  the  12"'  of  Dec  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  it  was  voted 
that  the  Average  shall  be  from  the  Beginning  of  the  War. 

Secondly  Voted  that  the  Average  shall  be  Settled  by  a  Committee 
out  of  town  Said  Committee  to  be  Daniel  Shaw  of  New  Salem,  Capt 
Isaac  Powers  of  Grenidge,  and  Capt  Metoon  of  Amherst. 

Voted  that  the  orders  for  Raising  the  six  and  three  months  men 
Shall  be  Precured  and  Red  in  the  town,  and  that  Doct  Nehemiah 
Hinds  Procure  the  above  mentioned  orders. 

Voted  that  the  Average  Money  shall  be  settled  according  to  Debt 
and  Credit.  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Moderator." 

Meetino,  Jan.  9,   1782. 

"Fifthly,  Voted  Not  to  Allow  Credit  Dun  in  other  towns  to  be 
Brought  into  the  Averege. 

Sixthly,  Voted  that  those  New  comers  that  have  Cominto  the  town 
of  Pelham  During  this  Present  Ware  Shall  be  Looked  upon  an 
Equateble  Level  at  the  time  of  there  Coming  in  with  the  Inhabitants 
of  s'  town  Respecting  Services  Dun  in  this  Present  War. 

Seventhly  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  to  take  the  Credit  and 
Settle  the  Average  in  Case  it  Give  Satisfaction  to  the  town,  if  not  to 
be  Left  to  the  former  Committee  out  of  town  s''  Committee  to  Con- 
sist of  Seven — James  Taylor,  Daniel  Gray,  John  Renkin,  Daniel 
Shess  (Shays),  John  Peibols,  Doct  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Joseph  Peckerd. 
Also  Voted  that  Capt  John  Thompson  is  to  attend  the  above  Com- 
mittee to  give  what  Light  into  the  Credit  he  Can." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 49 

The  action  of  the  town  at  the  above  meeting  concerning  the  issuing 
of  orders  to  tlie  six  and  three  montlis  men  was  not  satisfactory  to 
quite  a  number  of  voters  and  tlieir  protest  not  being  lieeded  and  their 
petition  for  a  town  meeting  ignored  by  the  selectmen,  a  petition  to  a 
justice  of  tliie  peace  to  issue  a  call  for  such  a  meeting  was  made, 
which  we  copy  in  full. 

Warrant  for  Meeting,  Jan.  22,  17S2. 
Hampshire  ss 

To  Abiah  Southworth,  Alathew  Brown,  Isaac  Backer,  Constables  of  the 
town  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  and  Commonwealth  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Greeting, — Whereas  Application  has  Been  made  to  Me  the  Sub- 
scriber by  John  Conkey  Jun,  James  Thompson,  Hugh  Johnston,  Robert 
Selfridge,  William  Croset,  William  Balden,  Thomas  Thompson,  Thomas 
Montgomery,  Andrew  Abercrombie,  James  Abercrombie,  Isaac  Conkey, 
Jacob  Proute,  John  McLem,  and  Caleb  Keith,  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Pelham  Qualified  to  vote  in  town  meetings  this  fourteenth  day  of  January  in 
the  Year  of  Our  Lord  1782  that  at  said  Pelham  on  the  12"'  day  of  Jenury 
Instant  there  was  Grate  necessity  and  occasion  of  a  Town  Meeting  for  Ser- 
tain  Business  of  Publick  Concern  to  the  Said  Town  and  the  Inhabitants 
their  to  be  Don,  that  is  to  say  to  see  whether  the  town  will  Recall  the  Vote 
Past  the  Ninth  Day  of  Jenury  Instunt  Allowing  the  Selectmen  to  give 
Orders  to  the  Six  and  three  months  men  for  the  Stats  Average  or  to  see  if 
the  town  will  stop  the  Giving  of  Orders  till  such  time  as  the  Average  is 
Settled  and  that  by  Reason  and  Necessity  as  aforesaid  they  the  said  Per- 
sons Aforesaid  Did  then  and  there  make  Due  AppHcation  in  writing  unto 
the  said  Selectmen  of  the  said  town  of  Pelham  Requiring  them  to  Issue 
there  Warrant  according  to  Law  for  the  Calling  a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabit- 
ants of  said  town  to  be  Assembled  to  act  upon  the  Business  Matters  and 
Articles  as  aforesaid  and  that  the  Selectmen  aforesaid  having  Before  them 
the  Application  Aforesaid  Did  then  and  thare  Unreasonably  Deny  to  Call 
such  meeting  as  aforesaid  on  the  Public  reason  aforesaid  and  Making 
Application  to  Me  the  Subscriber  as  one  of  the  next  Justices  of  the  Peas 
for  and  within  the  same  County  for  a  Warrant  to  issue  in  Due  form  of  Law 
Calling  a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  town  to  act  on  the  Matters  and 
Articles  aforesaid.  These  are  therfore  in  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Massachusetts  to  Require  you  forthwith  to  warn  all  the  Freeholders  and 
Other  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Pelham  lawfully  qualified  to  Vote  in  town 
meetings  that  they  assemble  at  the  Meetinghouse  in  Pelham  on  Tuesday 
the  twenty  second  Day  of  Jenury  Instant  at  two  of  the  Clock  in  the  after- 
noon then  and  their  after  a  Moderator  Chosen  to  see  whether  the  town  will 
recall  the  Vote  Pased  the  Ninth  Day  of  Jenury  instant  allowing  the  Select- 
men to  give  orders  to  the  Six  and  three  Months  Men  for  the  .Stats  Average 
or  to  see  if  the  Town  will  stop  the  giving  of  Orders  till  such  time  as  the 
Average  is  settled. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  Jan  14,  1782 

John  Ches  Williams,  Jus  of  Peas. 


150  HISTORY    OV    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  meeting  called  under  the  above  warrant  was  a  short  one  and 
resulted  in  a  reconsideration  of  the  vote  of  the  9th  of  January: 
"Voted  that  the  vote  passed  Jenury  the  Ninth  day  of  this  instant 
Respecting  the  Selectmen  to  Give  orders  to  the  six  and  three  months 
men  is  Recalled  Tho;\ias  Johnson,  Moderator." 

"  Settling  the  Average  "  was  something  desirable  but  not  so  easily 
accomplished.  It  had  been  left  to  a  committee  from  surrounding 
towns.  Committees  of  this  town  of  Pelham  had  endeavored  to  settle 
it  but  it  would  not  down. 

A  warrant  was  posted  for  a  meeting  Feb.  4,  1782,  the  meeting  to 
be  held  Feb.  8,  giving  only  four  days  notice. 

"  Thirdly  to  see  if  the  town  will  Cliose  one  or  more  Agents  to  Meet  the 
Agents  from  the  other  towns  in  this  County  at  Hadley  on  Monday  the 
eleventh  day  of  February  Instant. 

Forthly,  to  see  if  the  town  will  Com  in  to  Som  effectual  method  to  Settle 
the  Average  according  to  Law." 

Acting  on  the  third  article  "  It  was  Voted  that  three  Delegates 
should  attend  the  County  Convention  Viz :  Capt  Daniel  Shass 
(Shays)  Aaron  Gray  and  Jonathan  Hood,  Committee  of  Safety. 
Voted  to  chuse  a  Committee  in  town  to  Settle  the  Average — said 
Committee  to  Consist  of  thirteen.  Viz  :  Daniel  Gray,  Jonathan  Hood, 
Samuel  Hyde,  Hugh  Johnston,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  James  Taylor,  John 
Harkness,  Caleb  Keith,  John  Renkin,  Samuel  Samson,  William 
Croset,  John  Peebles,  James  Dunlap.  Secondly  Voted  that  the 
above  Committee  is  to  Velow  the  Town's  Don  in  the  Service." 

This  last  paragraph  we  interpret  to  mean  that  this  committee  of 
thirteen  was  instructed  to  make  a  valuation  of  what  the  town  had  done 
during  the  war  up  to  this  time  to  assist  in  settling  the  vexed  average. 

'•  Voted  to  sink  the  state  and  town  Average  from  the  beginning  of 
the  War  and  to  Rais  the  Men  for  the  future  for  the  Present  War  in 
Equal  Proportions  as  other  taxes  are  Raised.  Secondly  A^oted  to 
Withdraw  the  bill  of  State  Everage  out  of  the  Constables   Hands. 

Nehemiah  Hinds,  Moderator." 

The  regular  Annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of  officers  was  held  on 
the  i8th  of  March,  1782  and  the  voters  shelved  David  Cowden,  Nehe- 
miah Hinds,  Daniel  Gra}^  Caleb  Keith  and  Joseph  Packard,  the 
board  of  selectmen  that  had  refused  to  call  a  town  meeting  on  peti- 
tion, and  by  a  vote  of  hand  chose  a  new-  board  consisting  of  Aaron 
Gray,  Joseph  Hamilton,  Jonathan  Hood,  William  Dunlap  and  Thomas 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  151 

McMellin ;  and   Mathew    Clark,  Caleb    Keith,   Capt.    Daniel    Shays,, 
Capt.  Isaac  Gray,  Lieut.  John  McLem,  Committee  of  Safety. 

Meeting,  May  13,   17S2. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  on  13th  of  May,  1782,  Henry  McCuUoch 
and  Thomas  Johnson  were  chosen  delegates  to  attend  a  convention, 
to  be  held  at  Hatfield  on  the  following  day.  It  was  further  voted  to 
choose  a  committee  to  instruct  the  delegates  to  the  convention,  and. 
Caleb  Keith,  Ebenezer  Gray,  William  Dunlap,  Mathew  Clark,  and 
Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds  were  chosen  for  that  duty  and  after  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  laid  upon  them  the  town  accepted  the  instruc- 
tions as  good. 

It  did  not  require  very  long  notice  to  the  freeholders  and  other 
inhabitants  of  the  town  to  assemble  them  in  town  meeting,  for  the 
record  shows  a  warrant  bearing  the  date  August  5,  1782,  warning  the 
voters  to  assemble  at  four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  of 
August,  the  main  business  being  to  choose  delegates  to  sit  in  county 
convention  at  Colonel  Murray's  in  Hatfield  on  the  following  day. 
Daniel  Gray  and  Thomas  Johnston  were  chosen  delegates  and  then 
Hugh  Johnson,  John  Hamilton,  Samuel  Hyde,  Henry  McCulloch 
and  John  Renkin  were  chosen  a  committee  to  instruct  the  delegates 
in  their  duties.  This  done,  the  meeting  adjourned  for  one  hour  and 
a  half  to  the  house  of  Landlord  Bruce  to  give  the  committee  time  to 
instruct  the  delegates;  at  the  expiration  of  ihc  hour  and  a  half  the 
voters  reassembled  at  the  meeting  house  and  hearing  the  report  of 
the  instructions  given  the  delegates,  the  instructions  were  accepted 
by  the  town.      Samuel  Hyde  was  moderator. 

There  was  a  town  meeting  called  on  the  19th  clay  of  September,. 
1782  to  "  see  what  method  the  town  would  come  into  to  pay  the  men 
for  their  Beef  Bought  in  1781,''  and  it  was  "voted  that  the  Selectmen 
examine  into  the  Debt  of  the  town  and  find  out  what  the  town  is  in 
Debt  for  Beef.  Joseph  Packard,  Moderator." 

The  town  was  not  called  together  again  in  town  meeting  until  Jan.. 
22,  1783,  and  the  only  business  was  to  choose  wardens  for  the  town 
under  a  new  law  of  the  General  Court.  James  Taylor  and  Reuben 
Lotheridge  were  chosen.     Nehemiah  Hinds  was  moderator. 

No  more  town  meetings  until  March  3,  1783,  which  was  the  regu- 
lar annual  meeting  for  the  choice  of  officers. 

March  26,  1783,  there  was  ameeting  for  general  purposes.      Henry 


152  HISTORY    OF    PELIIAM,    MASS. 

McCulloch  was  allowed  12s.  for  attending  county  convention,  Capt. 
Shays,  12s.  for  attending"  a  county  convention,  and  officers  of  the 
town  were  voted  various  sums  for  their  services.  Three  shillings  per 
day  was  voted  for  workmen  on  the  highways,  etc. 

The  people  of  the  east  parish  of  Pel  ham  began  the  agitation  for 
having  that  part  of  the  town  set  off  by  itself,  and  articles  had  appeared 
in  several  warrants  for  action  upon  the  question  and  at  an  adjourned 
meeting,  June  30,  1783,  the  matter  was  brought  up  and  decided  in 
the  negative. 

Meeitnc;,   March  25,    1784. 

At  this  meeting  the  old  question  of  paying  the  six  and  three  months 
men  their  bounty  money  came  up  and  the  following  is  the  record : 
''  Voted  to  pay  the  six  and  three  months  men  that  was  raised  in  the 
year  1780  thare  several  Bountys  according  to  the  States  Everage,  but 
they  also  voted  to  take  advice  of  an  attorney  to  see  what  method  the 
town  will  take  to  settle  an  Everidge.  The  meeting  was  continued 
by  adjournment  to  the  house  of  Landlord  Bruce  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour — then  met  and  Vandued  to  Mathew  Clark  the  Collection  of  the 
Bills  taken  out  of  Abraham  Livermore^  hands  if  Clark  provide  suffi- 
cint  bondsmen.  Samuel  Hyde,  Moderator." 

April  14,  1784  there  was  a  town  meeting  when  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Aaron  Gray,  Andrew  Abercrombie, 
Capt.  John  Thompson,  Nathaniel  Sampson  and  Thomas  Johnston 
were  chosen  to  act  as  follows :  "  To  treat  with  the  six  and  three 
months  men  and  Likewise  every  other  Inhabitant  of  the  town  in 
order  to  Settle  the  Lose  of  the  Late  War  in  some  shorter  method  than 
making  a  Everidge."  This  meeting  was  adjourned  three  times,  and 
then  was  dissolved  without  further  action. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1784,  the  town  voted  ;^45o  to  settle  with  the 
six  and  three  months  men,  and  this  probably  cleared  the  vexed  ques- 
tion from  the  town  docket.  , 

The  question  of  an  "  Everidge  "  was  on  again  and  while  we  may 
not  grasp  the  matter  completely,  it  was  a  desire  to  learn  just  what  the 
town  was  indebted  to  the  state  after  the  services  of  the  town  to  the 
state  during  the  war,  which  had  recently  ended,  was  duly  credited. 

On  Friday,  Feb.  4,  1785,  the  voters  were  called  together  again  to 
act  on  these  articles  : 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  753- 

"  2'-^  to  see  if  the  Town  will  Petition  the  General  Court  to  Chuse  a  com- 
mittee to  make  an  Everidge  for  the  Town  of  Pelham — awaiting  that  the 
Verdict  shall  be  Decicive. 

3'-^  If  the  Town  is  not  a  mind  to  Petition  the  General  Court  then  for  the 
Town  to  Value  the  Tours  Done  in  the  Late  war  in  order  to  settle  the 
Everidge." 

The  assembled  voters  did  not  take  kindly  to  the  proposition  to 
petition  the  General  Court  but  '•  Voted  to  Choose  a  Committee  out  of 
tow'n  to  Make  an  Everidge.  Daniel  Shaw  of  New  Salem,  Col  Mc- 
Clallen  of  Coldrain  and  John  Powers  of  Shutesbury  is  s'  Committee." 
Esquire  Powers  of  Greenwich  was  afterwards  selected  in  place  of 
Daniel  Shaw. 

It  was  also  "  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  of  three  in  order  to 
Notify  and  appoint  the  Setting  of  the  Above  Committee  and  Likewise 
to  lay  before  the  s'^  Committee  all  Papers  Respecting  Raising  Men 
and  all  town  votes  that  Respects  the  same — Said  Committee  is  not 
to  Communicate  anything  to  the  Above  Committee  or  Suffer  any 
other  Person  excepting  under  oath. — John  Rinken,  Lt  Sampson  and 
Mathew  Clark  is  said  Committee."  it  was  also  "  Voted  that  the 
Result  of  Said  Committee  Shall  be  Decisive. 

Samuel  Hyde,  Moderator." 

The  inhabitants  of  Pelham  living  on  the  East  Hill  and  beyond  had 
been  dissatisfied  for  some  time  because  of  the  long  distance  to  travel 
to  church  and  town  meetings — they  were  obliged  to  go  down  the 
hill  on  which  they  lived  into  the  valley  of  the  West  Branch  and  then 
climb  to  the  top  of  the  U'est  Hill  where  the  meeting  house  was 
located  ;  there  were  frequent  town  meetings  on  week  days,  and  on 
Sundays  they  were  obliged  to  go  over  the  same  hard  road  again  until 
they  felt  it  a  burden  more  than  they  could  bear.  They  were  desirous 
of  having  a  meeting-house  on  the  East  Hill  for  worship  on  Sundays 
and  petitions  had  been  offered  to  the  town  on  several  occasions  ; 
articles  had  been  in  the  warrants  for  town  meeting  asking  that  the 
east  part  of  the  town  might  be  set  oft"  as  a  town  by  themselves,  but 
"Nothing  was  acted"  on  such  articles, — but  the  people  in  that  part 
of  the  town  were  not  discouraged  thereby,  nor  did  it  turn  them  from 
the  purpose  they  had  set  their  hearts  upon,  but  were  more  deter- 
mined than  ever  to  effect  some  sort  of  separation. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting,  May  9,  1785,  there  appeared 
the  following  article  : 


154 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


"2'^'y  To  see  if  it  is  the  minds  of  the  Town  to  sett  off  the  East  End  of 
.Pelham  Relative  to  a  Petition  that  May  be  Presented  for  that  Purpose." 

The  town  promptly  considered  the  petition  and  action  followed  as 
per  vote : 

"  2'"^'  Voted  to  Sett  off  the  East  Part  of  the  Town  as  far  as  the 
West  Branch  of  Swift  River  unto  a  distinct  Town  by  them  Selves. 

Samuel  Hyde,  Moderator." 

The  result  of  this  vote  was  not  so  sweeping  as  the  language  would 
indicate,  and  did  not  make  a  new  town  at  once,  but  it  made  it  pos- 
sible to  establish  the  East  Parish  and  was  the  entering  wedge  which 
caused  a  division  of  the  town  of  Pelham  and  the  incorporation  of 
that  part  of  Pelham  east  of  the  West  Pranch  of  Swift  river  as  Pres- 
cott  in  1822. 

The  meeting,  July  18,  1785,  was  an  important  one.  There  was 
but  one  article  in  the  warrant  which  we  copy. 

"  2'"-''  to  see  if  it  is  the  Minds  of  the  Town  to  Abide  by  the  Prisel  of  Towrs 
as  the  Committee  out  of  town  Prised  the  Towrs  or  Make  Such  alteration  as 
the  Town  shall  think  Proper  or  any  other  article  the  Town  shall  think 
Proper  to  act  upon." 

Action  on  above  article  : 

''  Firstly  Voted  to  Allow  Those  men  that  Did  Service  in  the  Late 
war  in  the  year  1783  (viz)  the  Eight  Months  Men  Per  Month  Nine 
Pence. 

2'"'  Men  that  Served  six  weeks  in  the  year  1775  Per  Month  ?\ine 
Pence. 

3^">  Voted  to  Allow  Those  men  that  Did  Service  in  the  year  1776 
at  ticonderoga  Dorgester  White  Plains  and  Morriston  Per  Month 
one  Shilling. 

4>My  Voted  to  alow  for  Towers  Done  in  the  year  1777  (viz)  at 
Moser  Creek  Stilwater  Benington  alarm  Taking  Burgoin  and  Ticon- 
teroge  Per  Month  one  Shilling. 

^thiy  Voted  to  alow  for  Service  in  the  year  one  thousand  Seven 
hundred  and  Seventy  eaight  (viz)  Towers  at  Springfield  Clerecreek 
Roadiland  and  New  London  Per  Month  Nine  Pence  also  for  Towers 
in  1779  (viz)  Eaight  Months  men  to  iill  up  the  Towns  quota  for 
three  years — nine  months  men  to  fill  up  the  Vacancy  of  the  Army 
and  Eaight  months  men  of  the  militia  Per  month  one  Shiling. 

y"''*'  Voted  that  David  Sloan  and  John  Harkness  Should  be  alowed 
one  year  Each — for  Robert  Conkey*  Service  in  the  three  years  Ser- 
vice,  and  the  s''  Credit  withdrawn  from  Alexander  Conkey. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 55 

gti.iy  Voted  to  alow  those  men  that  Bought  Credit  of  Thomas 
Montgomery  the  Credit  they  Bought  of  him. 

gthi)  Yoted  to  alow  John  Barljer  Nine  Months  and  a  half  in  the 
Nine  Months. 

10"''-  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  to  Make  up  a  Bill  of  the  Ser- 
vice Done  in  the  Late  War  s''  Committee  L'  Sampson,  Mathew  Clark 
and  John  Rinken.  Ebenezer  Gray,   Moderator." 

July  ig,  17S5,  a  warrant  was  issued  calling  a  meeting  on  Thurs- 
day, August  4,  1785,  containing  one  article: 

"  To  see  if  the  Town  will  Grant  a  sum  of  money  in  order  to  Settle  the 
Everidge  according  as  the  Town  Prised  the  Towers  and  any  other  article 
the  Town  Shall  think  Proper  to  act  upon." 

Meeting,  Aug.  4,   1785. 

"Voted  to  Raise  the  Sum  of  fifty  Pounds  twelve  Shilings  and  Two 
Pence  two  farthings  in  order  to  Settle  the  Service  Done  in  the  Late 
War  (viz)  Service  Done  from  Seventy  five  to  Eaight. 

Samuel  Hyde,  Moderator."" 

The  people  of  Pelham  were  feeling  the  after  results  of  a  long  and 
expensive  war  ;  there  was  a  scarcity  of  money  and  what  there  was  in 
circulation  was  much  depreciated  :  debtors  were  pressing  for  pay- 
ment, and  in  common  with  many  other  towns  and  communities  the 
clamor  for  a  further  issue  for  paper  money  took  possession  of  the 
people  of  this  town,  and  found  expression  in  town  meeting  held 
Jan.  26,  1786.  A  full  transcript  of  the  warrant  and  the  action  there- 
on follows  : 

Warrant  for  Meeting,  Jan.  26,  17S6. 

Hampshire  Ss 

To  Mr  John  Conkey,  Constable  for  the  Town  of  Pelham  Greeting  we 
Command  you  that  you  Warn  and  Give  Notice  to  all  the  freeholders  and 
other  Inhabitants  of  Pelham  Qualified  to  Vote  as  the  Law  Directs  to 
Assemble  on  Monday  the  30"'  Day  of  Jan'y  Instant  at  one  of  the  Clock  in 
the  Afternoon  at  the  meeting  house  in  s<^  Pelham  to  act  on  the  following 
Articles  (\'iz)  first  to  Chuse  a  Moderator — Secondly  to  See  if  it  is  the  minds 
of  the  Town  to  have  a  bank  of  Paper  money  made  and  any  other  article  the 
Town  Shall  find  Necessary  when  Conviened. 

Hereof  fail  not  and  make  Due  Return  of  the  Warrant  to  one  of  us  the 
Subscribers  Sometime  before  s''  meeting — Given  under  our  hands  and  Seal 
this  twenty  Sixth  Day  of  Jan''^  one  Thousand  seven  hundred  and  Eighty  Six 
John  Bruce,  James  Taylor,  Mathew  Clark,  Timothy  Packard, 

Selectmen  of  Pelham. 


156  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Town  Votes  for  Paper  Money. 

"Att  a  Meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Pelham  Legally  Assembled  on  Monday  ye  30"'  Day 
of  Jan"'  1786  Then  Meet  and  first  was  Chosen  Hugh  Johnston 
Moderator. 

2<"y  Voted  to  have  a  Bank  of  Paper  money  made. 

3'"-''  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  to  Petition  the  General  Court 
to  make  s''  mony. 

4"''»'  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  s'  Committee. 

5"''^'  Voted  that  Thomas  Johnston  be  added  to  s'  Committee. 

The  people  of  Pelham  had  been  through  the  hard  struggle  of  the 
ReYolution  and  had  responded  to  all  tails  as  promptly  as  it  was  pos- 
sible for  them  to  do ;  they  were  patriotic,  but  they  were  not  pos- 
sessed of  abundant  wealth  and  the  long  years  of  war  had  borne 
heavily  upon  them.  The  war  had  but  recently  ended  when  in  1784, 
they  were  humiliated  as  well  as  angered  by  a  four  or  five  months' 
experience  with  Stephen  Burroughs,  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,  who 
came  among  them  as  a  supplyer  when  without  a  settled  minister. 
The  year  1786  had  now  opened — a  year  of  much  turmoil  and  excite- 
ment throughout  the  state  and  especially  in  this  portion  of  the  state. 
Capt.  Daniel  Shays  was  one  of  the  town  wardens  and  he  began  to 
gather  the  discontented  grumblers  together  and  drill  them  in  the  use 
of  arms.  They  also  began  to  organize  themselves  by  conventions 
here  and  there,  and  formulating  long  lists  of  grievances  for  which 
they  demanded  redress,  and  to  secure  which,  later  in  the  year,  bodies 
of  armed  men  attempted  to  force  the  state  to  grant.  It  is  quite  prob- 
able that  nearly  all  of  the  men  in  the  town  were  in  active  sympathy 
with  the  insurgent  movement  although  not  a  word  concerning  the 
rebellion  of  that  year  is  found  upon  the  records,  except  a  word  or 
two  about  "  Public  Grievances." 

Meeting,  May  19,   1786. 

The  only  business  of  importance  was  the  choice  of  "Thomas  John- 
ston to  represent  the  town  in  the  General  Court  for  the  present  year." 


STEPHEN    RHODES     RESIOENXE. 


C.    H.    HANSON  S    KKSIDENCK. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


From  1786  to  1797. 


157 


Petition  of  certain  inhabitants  of  Belchertotvn  in  lySS. — Conventio?i  at 
Bruce'' s  Tavern^  fiilyji,  lySd. — Mutteriugs  about '■'■  Grievances  " 
in  Town  Afeeting. — Delegates  to  Convention  at  Hatfield  in 
August,  lySd. — Second  Parish  Organized,  iy86. — Choice  of 
Delegates  to  Attend  Constitutional  Convention,  lySj. — First  fas- 
ti ce  of  the  Peace  Appointed,  1188.— Families  Warned  to  Leave 
Town  in  lygo-gi. — First  General  Appropriation  for  the  Poor, 
ijgo. — Support  of  the  Poor  First  Sold  to  Lowest  Bidder  iyg4. 
— Laying  Out  Road  to  the  Valley,  lygS- — Stipulation  Concern- 
ing the  Poor,  lygy. 


Certain  citizens  of  the  north  part  of  Belchertown  became  desirous 
of  becoming  inhabitants  of  Pelham  and  a  petition  embodying  their 
desires  was  presented  to  the  voters  of  Pelham  in  town  meeting 
assembled  June  21,  1786,  for  action  thereon. 

"The  Petition  of  a  Number  of  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Belshertown 
Humbly  Showeth  that  we  Request  you  would  put  an  Article  in  your  Next 
Warrant  for  Town  Meeting  to  See  if  your  Town  will  vote  to  Recieve  s*^ 
Petitioners  together  with  all  the  Lands  Described  in  said  Petition,Viz  :— So 
far  south  and  east  as  Mr.  Jacob  Edsons  South  and  East  Line,  and  so  far 
south  and  west  as  the  south  and  west  Range  of  Wm  Jedediah  Ayeres  Land 
and  we  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  Ever  Pray.  To  the  Select- 
men of  Pelham,  Francis  Stratton,  Jedediah  Ayers,  John  Barrus,  Thomas 
Thurston,  John  Whight,  David  Conet,  John  Stratton,  John  Woods,  We  the 
Subscribers  Jointly  and  severally  agrees  and  Covenants  with  the  Town  of 
Pelham,  Provided  they  vote  to  Receive  said  Petitioners  or  Subscribers,  that 
We  Our  Heirs  Executors  or  Administrators  will  Never  vote  to  Remove  said 
Pelham  Meeting  House  from  the  place  where  it  now  stands,  as  witness  our 
hands, 

Fkancis  Straton,  John  Barrus,  Thomas  Thurston,  John  Woods,. 
Jedediah  Ayers  jux,  John  White." 

The  above  petition  was  considered,  and  it  was  "  Voted  to  Recieve 
to  the  town  of  Pelham  a  Number  of  Inhabitants  of  Belsherton  with 
their  Lands  as  is  Sett  forth  in  their  Petition." 


158  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

On  the  south  border  of  the  town  which  was  originally  a  straight 
line  running  due  east  and  west  there  is  now  a  break  and  a  portion  of 
the  town  is  south  of  the  original  layout.  This  is  believed  to  be  the 
tract  of  land  described  in  the  above  petition. 

The  proviso  appended  to  the  petition  which  bound  the  petitioners, 
their  heirs  and  assigns,  never  to  take  any  steps  looking  to  the  removal 
of  the  "Meeting-House"  from  its  position  at  the  center  of  the  town 
was  unquestionably  made  a  part  of  their  petition  to  prevent  opposi- 
tion by  some  who  believed  the  addition  of  a  few  families  on  the 
south  border  of  the  town  might  lead  to  a  demand  that  the  meeting- 
house be  moved  to  a  more  central  position. 

Agitation  for  the  Redress  of  Grievances,   1786. 

It  was  believed  that  the  Legislature  for  the  year  1786  would  be 
called  upon  to  redress  certain  grievances  under  which  the  people 
were  suffering  and  the  interest  of  the  people  in  the  action  of  the 
General  Court  about  to  be  chosen  is  shown  in  the  following  articles 
of  the  same  warrant  : 

"  First,  To  see  if  the  Town  will  approve  of  the  Instructions  the  Commit- 
tee gave  the  Representative  and  Pass  all  votes  Relative  thereto. 

3<^'y  To  see  if  the  Town  are  Desirous  of  having  a  Redress  of  Publick 
Grievances  and  vote  anything  Relative  thereto  or  any  other  article  the  town 
shall  think  proper  to  Act  upon  when  Assembled." 

Action  on  the  first  article  is  given  as  per  record:  "Voted  not  to 
accept  of  the  Instructions  of  the  Committee  to  the  Representative — 
also  A^oted  to  Dismiss  said  Committee. — Voted  to  chuse  a  Commit- 
tee to  Instruct  the  Representative  this  Present  Year — the  Committee 
to  consist  of  five — that  Mathew  Clark,  Joseph  Hamilton,  John 
Rinken,  Hugh  Johnston  and  Nathaniel  Sampson  is  said  Committee. 
Nathaniel  Sampson,  Moderator." 

Article  three  of  the  above  warrant,  for  "  Redress  of  Publick  Griev- 
ances "  seems  to  have  received  no  consideration  by  the  meeting,  not 
even  a  vote  to  "  pass  the  article  "  or  "  nothing  acted  on  3d  article," 
which  was  a  common  record  when  articles  in  a  warrant  were  not 
considered.  If  there  was  action  on  it,  as  there  might  have  been  in 
the  excited  state  of  the  people,  the  record  was  not  spread  upon  the 
book. 

Convention  at  Landlord  Bruce's  Tavern. 
The  next  meeting  was  on  Friday,  July  28,  1786,  and  the  warrant 
contained  but  one  article. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 59 

"  i"'y  For  the  Town  to  Chuse  a  Delegate  or  Delegates  to  Meet  in  Con- 
vention on  Alonda}'  the  thirty-first  Day  of  this  Instant  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon  at  the  house  of  Landlord  Bruce's  in  Pelham  and  Pass  any  vote 
Relative  thereto  or  any  other  article  the  Town  shall  think  Proper  to  act 
upon  when  Assembled." 

Action  on  above  article:  "  Nehemiah  Hinds  was  chosen  Modera- 
tor. Caleb  Keith  and  John  Rinken  were  chosen  as  Delegates  to 
represent  the  town  in  Con\'ention  at  Landlord  Bruce''  on  the  31''' 
Instant. 

2'^-'  A^oted  that  there  shall  be  a  Committee  of  ten  to  instruct  s'" 
Delegates. —  Said  Committee  is  Joseph  Hamilton,  Thomas  Johnston, 
Joseph  Packard,  Mathew  Clark,  Doct  Hynds,  John  Peebles,  Hugh 
Johnston.  Ebenezer  Gray,  James  Taylor  and  Captain  John 
Thompson." 

The  meeting  was  continued  by  adjournment  to  Monday  the  14* 
of  August  next  at  5  o'clock  p.  m.  Dr.  Hynds  being  absent,  Ebene- 
zer Gray  was  chosen  Moderator — and  it  was  "  Voted  to  chuse  a 
Delegate  or  Delegates  to  Attend  Convention  at  Hatfield  on  Tuesday 
the  22''  of  this  Instant — Voted  that  Caleb  Keith  and  Mathew  Clark 
are  said  Delegates." 

For  what  purpose  the  convention  was  called  at  Landlord  Bruce's 
we  find  no  record,  but  can  assume  that  it  was  for  the  consideration  of 
the  "  publick  grievances  "  in  some  form  or  other  ;  that  the  duties  of 
the  delegates  to  the  Pelham  convention  were  considered  of 'a  weighty 
nature,  and  to  have  an  important  bearing  for  the  good  or  ill  of  the 
town,  is  made  evident  by  the  fact  that  ten  of  the  first  citizens  of  the 
town  were  chosen  to  confer  with  them  and  give  them  final  instruc- 
tions to  guide  their  action  in  the  convention  assembled  at  the  house 
of  Landlord  Bruce.      There  is  no  record  of  action  in  the  convention. 

The  convention  at  Hatfield  on  the  22''  of  August  1786,  which 
Caleb  Keith  and  Mathew  Clark  were  to  attend  was  in  session  for 
three  days  with  delegates  from  fifty  towns  to  consider  the  causes  of 
the  general  vineasiness  and  dissatisfaction  among  the  people:  and  the 
convention  formulated  a  list  of  twenty-five  grievances  under  which 
the  people  were  suffering.  Similar  conventions  gathered  in  many 
parts  of  the  state  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  this  year 
until  the  excited  people  were  in  open  rebellion  against  the  state 
government. 


]6o  history  of  pklha.m,  mass. 

Meeting,  Oct.  17,   1786. 

"Voted  that  Lieutenant  Packard  and  Captain  Shays  shall  be  dele- 
gates to  meet  in  convention  in  Hadley  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  Novem- 
ber. Then  voted  to  continue  the  meeting  by  adjournment  to  Mon- 
day, the  23d  day  of  this  instant  at  12  o'clock,  at  the  meeting-house 
in  said  town.  Then  met  according  to  appointment — the  same  mod- 
erator continued —then  voted  to  excuse  Captain  Shays  and  Lieuten- 
ant I'ackard  from  serving  in  con\ention.  Voted  that  Caleb  Keith 
and  Samuel  Hyde  should  serve  in  their  room. 

Samuel  Hyde,  Moderator." 

This  was  the  last  time  Capt.  Daniel  Shays  was  elected  to  serve 
the  town  by  the  people  of  Pelham. 

Meeting,  Oct.  3,   1786. 

That  portion  of  the  town  east  of  the  west  branch  of  Swift  river 
having  formed  a  separate  parish  to  be  known  as  the  East  parish,  it 
became  necessary  to  decide  what  grants  should  be  assessed  upon  the 
town  and  what  expenses  should  be  borne  by  the  two  parishes.  It 
was  voted  that  the  selectmen  consult  with  the  East  parish  committee 
and  agree  upon  what  grants  should  be  assessed  upon  the  town. 

John  Hamilton,  Lamond  Gray,  Andrew  Abercrombie,  Joseph 
Packard  and  Nathaniel  Sampson  was  chosen  a  committee  to  consult 
the  neighboring  towns  in  order  to  petition  the  General   Court. 

The  exciting  times  caused  by  being  in  open  rebellion  against  the 
state  government,  and  its  leader  a  citizen  of  the  town,  occupied  the 
attention  of  the  people  so  completely  that  they  may  not  have  had 
time  for  town  meetings  had  the  voters  been  at  home,  as  they  proba- 
bly were  not  during  the  last  few  months  of  this  year  (1786)  and  for 
a  month  or  two  of  the  year  1  787,  or  until  the  collapse  of  the  rebellion. 

After  the  adjourned  meeting  of  Octoker  23  the  town  was  not 
called  together  again  until  the  warrant  was  posted  for  the  regular 
annual  town  meeting  March  29,  1787,  and  there  was  a  continuance 
until  the  24th  of  April  without  any  business  being  transacted  beyond 
the  choice  of  Alexander  Pierry,  moderator,  followed  by  the  choice  of 
the  usual  officers  for  the  year. 

Meeting,   April  2,    1787. 

Tlie  Shays  Rebellion  was  substantinlly  ended  and  the  voters  of 
Pelham    were    probably  all  at  home   except    Ca]:t.  Daniel    Shays  and 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  l6l 

Henry  McCulloch.  The  General  Court  had  passed  a  law  requiring 
all  men  elected  to  office  to  subscribe  to  an  oath  of  allegiance  before 
taking  the  oath  of  office,  and  the  following  transcript  from  the  record 
of  this  meeting  makes  it. clear  that  the  best  men  of  the  town  were 
actively  engaged  in  the  rebellion  or  in  sympathy  with  it. 

"The  following  persons  have  taken  and  Subscribed  to  the  Oath  of 
Allegiance  as  Directed  by  Law  previous  to  the  oath  of  office.  John 
Rinkin,  John  Harkness,  Andrew  Abercrombie,  Alexander  Berry, 
Nathaniel  Sampson, Ebenezer  Gray,  William  Conkey  jun,  John  Bruce." 

Subscribing  to  the  oath  of  allegiance  was  required  of  all  officers 
for  a  few  years,  and  then  the  law  was  not  enforced,  perhaps  repealed. 

After  the  east  part  of  the  town  had  become  a  parish  by  itself  the 
call  for  town  meetings  warned  the  inhabitants  to  meet  and  assemble 
at  the  old  or  \^'est  parish  meeting-house  and  the  west  branch  of 
Swift  river  was  the  line  between  the  two  parishes.  The  highway 
surveyors  were  directed  to  recognize  the  river  as  the  limit  of  their 
respective  districts  while  repairing  roads.  Surveyors  in  the  East 
parish  came  down  to  the  river  and  those  belonging  in  the  old  parish 
went  no  farther  than  the  river.  There  were  separate  collectors 
chosen  for  the  two  parishes,  to  collect  to^\n  taxes,  John  Barker  hav- 
ing the  collection  of  taxes  for  the  West  or  old  parish  vendued  to  him 
in  17S7  at  1 2d  on  the  pound  and  Lieut.  John  Hamilton  had  the  col- 
lectorship  of  the  East  parish  the  same  year  at  i2d.  on  the  pound. 

The  work  of  framing  a  constitution  for  the  country  which  had 
been  through  a  long  and  costly  war  for  liberty  had  been  accom- 
plished and  conventions  were  called  in  the  various  states  to  submit 
it  for  adoption  or  rejection. 

A  meeting  was  called  Nov.  26,  1787, 

"  To  chuse  a  Delegate  to  Set  in  Convention  at  Boston  to  approve  of  the 
States  Constitution." 

Nathaniel  Sampson  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  then  it  was  "'  voted 
to  Continue  this  meeting  by  adjournment  to  the  house  of  Landlord 
Bruce  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour." 

Just  where  Bruce's  tavern  was  located  cannot  now  be  determined, 
but  it  could  not  have  been  far  from  the  old  parish  meeting-house  ; 
had  it  not  been  near,  the  assembled  voters  could  not  have  adjourned 
to  Bruce's  tavern  from  the  meeting-house  for  a  consultation  and 
returned  to  the  meeting-house  again  within  fifteen  minutes.  The 
record  says  that  they  "  Met  according  to  appointment,"  and  '•  Made 


1 62  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

choice  of  Mr.  Adam  Clark  to  Represent  the  Town  in  the  Conven- 
tion to  Ratify  or  Reject  the  Constitution." 

The  next  business  on  the  record  :   "  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee 
of  five  to  Instruct  s'   Delegate. — Said  Committee    is  Caleb  Keith, 
John  Conkey,  Abiah  Southworth.  Doct  Plynds  and  Joseph  Packard. 
Nathaniel  SaxMpson,  Moderator." 

Meeting,   Feb.   25,  1788. 

This  warrant  had  but  one  article  in  it,  but  one  of  no  less  import- 
ance than  "  To  see  if  the  Town  will  Reccommend  some  Proper  Per- 
son for  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  the  Governor  and  Counsel.'' 

Action  of  the  meeting :  "Voted  to  Reccommend  Deacon  Ebene- 
zer  Gray  to  the  Governor  and  Counsel  for  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Voted  that  the  Selectmen  make  out  a  Petition  to  the  Governor  and 
Counsel  that  they  would  Grant  a  Commition  to  Deacon  Ebenezer 
Gray  for  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Caleb  Keith,   Moderator." 

Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray  was  a  man  of  integrity,  honest,  faithful  and 
much  respected  by  the  people,  as  is  shown  by  his  being  chosen  town 
treasurer  for  many  years,  and  elected  upon  many  important  commit- 
tees where  intelligence,  honesty  and  good  sound  judgment  were 
required. 

Meeting,  April  7,  17S8. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  record  was  made  :  "  Voted  to  Remit 
Capt  Shays  Rats  in  Capt.  John  Conkey's  Rate  Bills,"  thus  showing 
that  the  rebel  captain  neglected  to  pay  his  taxes  before  leaving  towa, 
and  that  he  was  not  expected  to  return  to  town  again. 

Meeting,  Feb.  6,   17S9. 

This  meeting  was  called  Feb.  6,  1789,  to  act  upon  an  article  as 
follows  : 

"  First  to  see  it  the  Town  as  they  have  not  had  an  Equeal  Chance  with 
thair  Breatheran  by  Reason  of  thair  not  having  a  Precept  Seasonably  to  see 
if  the  Town  will  Petition  the  General  Court  for  an  Equel  Chance  with  thair 
Breatheran  for  a  New  Choice  for  a  Representative  and  to  act  on  any  other 
Article  the  Town  shall  think  Proper  when  Convened."' 

The  meeting  was  organized  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  by  the 
choice  of  Capt.  John  Conkey,  moderator,  and  then  il  was  "' Voted  to 
adjourn  said  meeting  to  Landlord    Shurtlief's   until   hve  oclock  of  s'' 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 63 

day.  Then  met  and  it  was  voted  that  the  Selectmen  send  a  Letter 
to  the  General  Court  and  Inform  them  of  the  Neglect  of  the  Precept 
Respecting  the  Representative." 

The  location  of  Landlord  Shurtlieff's  tavern  was  doubtless  near  the 
meeting-house  ;  and  the  fact  of  the  town  not  being  represented  in 
the  General  Court  because  the  precept  did  not  arrive  in  season  to 
call  a  meeting  as  directed  in  the  delayed  document  was  a  matter  that 
demanded  consideration  before  action  was  taken  by  vote.  There 
was  no  heating  apparatus  in  the  meeting-house  and  consequently  not 
a  comfortable  place  for  consultation  on  the  afternoon  of  a  February 
day  in  an  old-fashioned  winter,  and  for  this  good  and  sufficient 
reason  we  have  a  right  to  suppose  the  adjournment  was  made  to 
Shurtlieff's  tavern,  where  the  voters  could  deliberate  and  decide  upon 
their  action  in  comfort  before  the  blazing  fire-place  at  the  tavern. 
When  the  plan  of  action  had  been  decided  upon  the  voters  reassem- 
bled at  the  meeting-house  according  to  the  terms  of  adjournment  and 
directed  the  selectmen  to  write  a  letter  of  explanation  to  the  General 
Court,  and  at  the  same  time  praying  to  be  given  authority  to  elect  a 
representative  so  that  the  town  might  not  be  deprived  of  the  right  of 
representation  accorded  to  other  towns. 

The  Town  Exercised  on  Account  of  the  Poor. 

Since  the  settlement  of  the  town  the  policy  had  been  to  exercise  a 
close  and  rigid  scrutiny  upon  those  who  desired  to  make  a  home  in 
the  town  ;  not  only  to  see  that  they  were  desirable  morally  speaking 
but  also  for  the  purpose  of  making  sure  that  they  would  make  citi- 
zens not  likely  to  become  an  expense  to  the  town  by  reason  of  pov- 
erty. The  thrifty  Scotchmen  had  succeeded  in  keeping  the  poor 
and  shiftless  out  of  the  town,  warning  out  such  as  came  in  without 
first  securing  permission  to  enter,  and  by  forcible  removal  if  there 
was  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  any  new  comer  to  disregard  the 
notice  to  leave  the  town.  In  spite  of  all  the  care  exercised  by  the 
leading  citizens,  sickness  and  distress  would  fall  upon  some,  and 
assistance  from  the  town  was  the  only  alternative. 

Meeting,  April   12,   1790. 

The  first  general  appropriation  for  the  poor  was  made  at  the  12th 
of  April  meeting,  1790,  recorded  as  follows:  "A^oted  to  allow  6 
Pounds  for  the  Support  of  the  Poor  the  present  year.' 


164  HISTORY    OK    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  first  board  of  overseers  of  the  poor,  or  a  committee  whose 
duties  were  substantially  those  of  overseers  of  the  poor  of  modern 
times,  was  chosen  at  the  same  meeting  by  this  recorded  vote : 
"  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  three  to  Inspect  the  poor  for  the 
Present  year." 

Meeting,  May  4,   1790. 

It  was  voted  to  give  a  bounty  for  killing  crows  : — "  Voted  one 
shilling  in  Town  Security  for  each  Crow  that  is  killed  in  the  town  by 
the  15"'  of  June  Next  by  the  Inhabitance  of  s'  Town.  Voted  that 
any  Person  that  shall  kill  a  crow  or  crows  shall  carry  the  same  to 
one  of  the  Constables  of  s''  town  and  he  to  give  a  certificate  for  the 
Number  of  Crows  that  is  killed.        Mathew  Clark,  Moderator." 

In  the  warrant  for  meeting,  June  4,  T790,  was  this  article  : 

"  To  see  if  it  is  the  mind  of  the  Town  to  Petition  the  General  Court  set- 
ting forth  the  Badness  of  the  Roads  and  our  Inability  to  keep  them  in 
Repair  Praying  that  they  would  grant  the  Town  liberty  to  work  out  thair 
state  Taxt  on  the  County  Road." 

It  w'as  voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  as  per  article  and 
Andrew  Abercrombie  and  Abiah  Southworth  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  assist  the  selectmen  in  the  "  Draught  of  a  proper  petition." 

The  meeting  was  called  at  4  p.  m.  and  the  meeting  was  "  adjourned 
to  the  house  of  Landlord  Shurtlieff  to  meet  again  at  half  an  hour 
after  Eight  oclock  this  Instant." 

This  adjournment  to  the  Shurtlieff  tavern  was  not  because  the 
meeting-house  was  cold  but  to  give  the  selectmen,  and  assisting  com- 
mittee, better  opportunity  to  formulate  a  petition  to  the  General 
Court.  The  voters  met  at  8-30  that  evening  at  the  meeting-house 
and  it  was  "  Voted  that  the  Town  Except  the  Draft  of  the  Petition 
that  the  Committee  Drew.  Abiah  Southworth,  Moderator." 

Copy  of  a  warrant  issued  to  Constable  Benoni  Shurtlieff,  dated 
Jan.  31,  1791,  by  the  selectmen: 

"  To  Lieut  Benoni  Shurtlieff.  Constable  You  are  Directed  to  Warn  and 
give  notice  unto  Isaac  Doge  of  Charlton  in  the  County  of  Worcester, 
Laborer,  Georg  Eliot  Middleborough  in  the  County  of  I'lyniouth,  Thomas 
Thompson  Taylor,  forrenor,  James  Tally,  a  Transent  Person,  Moses 
Buttler  of  Hardwick  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  Laborer  and  James  Wat- 
kins  of  Hardwick  in  the  County  of  Worcester,  Laborer  who  has  latUy  come 
in  this  town  for  tlie  Purpose  of  ;il)iding  etc.     Thairfore  that  they  Depart  the 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 65 

Limits  thairof  with  their  Children  and  others  under  thair  care  within  tii'teen 
days— Also  the  Widow  Robeson  of  Connicticut  State,  a  transent  parson 
who  has  lately  come  into  this  town  not  having  obtained  Consent  etc.'' 

All  of  the  persons  named  were  ordered  to  depart  the  limits  within 
15  days  and  the  warrant  w-as  signed  by  the  selectmen. 

The  return  of  the  constable  is  unique  : 

"  Hampshire  ss 

February  19,  1791 — By  \''artue  of  this  warrant  I  have  warned  all  of  the 
within  Named  Persons  as  this  Warrant  Directs  Except  Watkins  family  and 
thair  not  to  be  found  in  my  presint  and  Eliot  I  left  a  Summons  according  to 
Law  Bexoxi  Shurtlieff,  Constable  of  Pelhani." 

As  we  contemplate  this  wholesale  midwinter  warning  out  to  a  con- 
siderable number  of  men,  women  and  children,  we  can  but  be  more 
impressed  with  the  abounding  contempt  for  shiftlessness  and  improv- 
idence displayed  by  these  Scotch  citizens  of  the  town.  Had  they 
issued  their  mandate  to  "  Depart  the  Limits"  earlier  in  the  season, 
or  postponed  it  until  spring,  we  should  not  have  felt  so  much  like 
charging  them  with  exhibiting  a  heartlessness  that  is  not  pleasant  to 
to  entertain  against  such  thoroughly  good  people  as  we  believe  these 
sturdy  Presbyterians  to  have  been. 

The  meeting  Oct.  20,  1791,  was  for  very  important  purposes,  best 
expressed  by  quoting  the  warrant.  The  first  article  was  to  see  about 
a  mill  being  built  on  the  west  branch.  The  next  article  marks  the 
proposed  introduction  of  a  practice  not  commendable,  but  it  was  one 
in  common  use  in  many  towns  for  years, — now  happily  departed  from 
and  abandoned. 

"To  see  if  the  town  will  set  up  at  \'andue  the  Cost  of  William  McFall 
and  his  wife  for  one  year." 

The  unmistakable  intention  of  the  above  article  was  to  set  up  the 
cost  of  maintaining  the  unfortunate  McFall  and  wife  at  vendue  to 
the  lowest  bidder,  but  it  does  not  say  that.  Possibly  they  thought  it 
might  be  construed  to  mean  the  highest  bidder,  and  caused  a  halt, 
for  there  is  no  record  of  action  on  this  article.  Action  upon  the  mill 
privilege  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  about  mills,  etc. 

"May  10.  i79i,the  Preambleation  of  the  Line  Between  Pelham 
and  Amherst.  Began  at  a  Heap  of  stones  at  the  Southwest  corner 
of  Pelham  and  ran  North  2d  15m  west  and  found  seven  old  ALirks 
and  Boundarys,  several  of  which  we  Marked  with  the  Letter  PA  (viz) 
a  Large  Pine  tree  against  Harkness  improved  Land  also  another 
Pine  tree  at  the  North  end  of  a  Pon  hoi  against  Col  Mattoons  Land, 


l66  HISTORY    OK    PELHAM,     MASS. 

another  Pine  tree  about  eight  Roads  North  of  Pelhani  Road,  another 
Pine  tree  against  ("apt  Parkers  Lot,  also  an  oak  tree  al^out  ten  Rods 
South  of  the  River,  also  a  large  white  oak  tree  against  Hodgdons 
Land  all  of  which  trees  we  marked  P.  x\.  and  0  and  Renewed  the 
Northwest  ("orner  of  Pelhani,  which  is  a  large  Heap  of  Stones,  by 
putting  a  Stake,  said  line  is  Run  by  Justice  Dwight,  Surveyor. 

Annual  Mketino,   April  2,    1792. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  to  April  17  and  it  was  then  "Voted 
to  Chuse  a  Committee  and  to  Provide  for  the  Support  of  the  Poor 
the  present  year.  Chose  James  Dunlap,  Lt  Benoni  Shurtlieff  and 
Robert  Makliani,  for  s''  Committee."  A  committee  had  been  chosen 
in  1790  "To  Lispect  the  Poor,"  and  then  excused  from  serving;  the 
election  of  the  above  committee  to  provide  for  the  support  of  the 
poor  comes  the  nearest  to  overseers  of  the  poor  that  the  town  had 
come,  up  to  this  time.  It  was  found  that  the  poor  could  not  all  be 
ejected  from  the  town  by  a  constable,  and  provision  must  be  made 
for  them.  This  year  Justice  Ebenezer  Gray,  David  Huston  and 
Jeremiah  McMillen  were  serving  the  town  — not  as  hog  reeves,  but 
under  the  more  dignified  title  of  *'  Hog  Constables." 

There  was  a  regularly  warned  meeting  held  this  same  17th  of 
April  for  other  business. 

Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds  petitioned  for  a  favor  professionally,  as  the 
warrant  indicates: 

'•  To  see  if  the  towi\  will  grant  Dr  Hinds  Liberty  to  set  up  a  Pest  House 
in  .s''  town  Providing  it  shall  he  set  in  such  a  place  as  shall  be  thought  safe 
for  the  Inhabitance  of  s''  town."' 

The  vote  was  favorable  to  the  project  of  the  doctor,  and  is  thus 
recorded : 

"  Voted  Dr  Nehemiah  Hinds  Liberty  to  set  up  anocalation  House 
in  said  Town  Provided  it  is  set  in  such  a  place  that  the  Inhabitance 
will  not  be  Exposed  to  catch  the  Infaclion." 

Annual  Meeting  March  3,   1794. 

''  Voted  to  set  up  the  Cost  of  Keeping  of  Mr.  McFall  and  wife  to 
the  Lowest  Bidder.  Struck  oh  to  William  IJaldwin  for /J'8  los  for  one 
year,  the  Doctors  Bill  Excepted." 

Mr.  William  Baldwin  stands  first  on  the  long  list  of  those  who 
followed  his  lead  and  supported  this  plan  of    dealing  with  the  unfort- 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 67 

unate  by  bidding  off  the  poor  to  support  at   the    inverted   vendue,  or 
lowest  bidder. 

"  Minits  of  a  road  altered  by  the  Selectmen  on  the  road  leading 
from  the  County  road  to  what  is  Called  the  Valley,  the  alteration  is 
as  follows  (viz.)  Beginning  about  twenty  rod  East  of  whare  said 
road  leaves  the  County  road  at  a  White  pine  staddle  north  of  the 
road  where  now  traveled,  then  bearing  North  of  East  to  a  white  pine 
Staddle  and  then  to  a  pich  pine  tree  and  then  to  a  white  pine  tree 
by  the  mill  brook  a  little  north  of  the  Bridge  that  is  over  the  Mill 
brook.  S'' trees  is  on  Mr.  John  Harkness''  land  and  are  marked  on 
the  south  side.  Then  keeping  the  road  where  it  is  now  traveled  to 
the  bottom  of  the  hill,  then  leaving  the  said  road  on  the  north  of  a 
chestnut  tree  marked  on  the  south  side,  from  thence  East  bearing- 
south  still  in  John  Harkness  land  to  the  new  Dug  Way  to  land  lately 
owned  by  Major  Egleston,  then  through  said  Eglestons  land  to  John 
Rinkins  land,  from  thence  to  an  old  seller  where  Torrance  lately 
lived  and  from  thence  to  the  road  now  travelled.  S'  road  is  laid  out 
two  rod  wide  southerly  of  the  Marks." — Pelham,  April  6,  1795. 

Meetinc;,  April   6,    1795. 

Under  a  separate  warrant  the  town  was  called  to  act  on  business 
contained  in  the  following  article  : 

'•  For  the  purpose  of  Collecting'  their  Sentiments  on  the  Needsessity  or 
Expedeency  of  revising  the  Constitution  in  order  to  Amendments  agreeable 
to  the  Provition  made  in  S''  Constitution." 

Vote  on  above  article:  '•  Five  voats  for  revising  and  trfty-six  against 
revising." 

Meeting,  August  25,   1795. 

"  Voted  for  the  town  to  set  up  posts  and  Bords  at  the  corner  of 
the  roads  through  S '  town  to  Direct  Travellers  to  the  Next  town 
where  S"^  road  leads.  David  Conkey,  Moderator." 

The  assessors  of  Pelham  one  hundred  years  ago  had  very  different 
methods  in  making  up  the  valuation  for  taxation  fi-om  those  of  to-day, 
when  the  valuation  is  fixed  somewhat  close  upon  the  real  value  of 
farm  property.  In  1795  the  valuation  of  all  the  property  in  Pelham, 
including  209  polls  and  the  non-resident  lands,  amounted  to  only 
$6028.05.  Squire  Abbott's  valuation  was  placed  at  $190  and  then 
a  line  was   drawn    across  it  as   though  it  was  a  mistake.      Dr.  Nehe- 


1 68  HISrOKY    OF    PKLHAM,     MASS. 

miah  Hinds  valuation  for  taxation  was  only  $157,  and  yet  thedoctor 
paid  the  highest  tax  of  any  man  in  town,  though  it  was  only  about 
$24  annually.  They  made  the  valuation  very  low  and  the  rate  suffi- 
cient to  raise  all  the  money  needed  fdr  public  purposes. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  6,   1797. 

"Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  to  Ensign  John  Coles  for  fifteen  min- 
nits,  then  meet  and  first  voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  for  ten  minnits 
to  the  meetinghouse  then  meet  and  first  was  voted  to  set  up  the 
keeping  of  Mr.  McFall  and  wife  to  the  lowest  bidder,  the  Purchaser 
is  to  return  him  with  as  much  Property  as  he  Receives  with  him  S'' 
Town  is  to  pay  all  Extraordinary  Doctrine.  Struck  of  the  keeping 
of  Mr  McFall  and  wife  to  Matt  Clark  for  ^14  los." 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  April  following.  In 
the  mean  time  Matt  Clark  repented  him  of  his  purchase  and  asked 
to  be  relieved  of    his  bargain.     The  record  concludes  as  follows  : 

"  Then  met  according  to  the  above  adjournment  and  first  voted  to 
Except  Mr.  James  Latham  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Matt  Clark,  the  keep- 
ing of  Mr.  McFall  and  wife  was  struck  of  to  Mr  Matt  Clark  at 
£14  I  OS  which  sum  S''  Latham  is  to  have." 

The  unfortunate  Mr.  McFall  and  wife  had  similar  experience  for 
many  years. 


From  1797  to  1809. 


lYcDisfcr  of  J'euis  in  the  Old  Meetiiii^^-Jionse,  iJoS. — Permission  voted  to 
build  "  Horse  Shades  "  ijgg. — Sale  of  town  lands  at  Vendue, 
j8oi.  —  Opposition  to  the  Building  of  Turnpike,  j8o2. — A  to7vn 
Found  established,  1804. — Robert  Lothe ridge  sells  his  peio  in  the 
Old  Meeting-house.- —  Voted  to  hold  one-third  of  the  town  meetings 
in  the  Second  Parish,  180^. — Attempts  to  have  the  Toll-gate 
Abolished,  1806. — Samuel  and  Andrew  Hyde  petition  to  have 
their  lands  set  off  to  Ainherst,  1807. 


Meeting,  ALakch  20,   1797, 
was  called  especially  and  only  for  action  on  this  one  article  : 

"To  see  if  the  Town  will  grant    Liberty  for  the    anoculation  of  the  Small 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 69 

Pox  in  said  Town  and  Establish  a  House  or  Houses  for  the  Caring  on  the 
same  for  any  length  of  time  that  they  shall  judge  best  when  convened." 

Action  on  above  article  was  prompt  and  decisive.  "Voted  not  to 
have  the  anoculation  of  the  Small  Pox  in  town. 

William  Conkey,  Moderator." 

Contract  for  the  Care  of  the  Poor. 

Mr.  McFall  and  wife  were  struck  off  again  for  £i6  to  Joel  Conkejr 
and  Lieut.  Jeremiah  McMillen,  under  the  following  written  agreement:. 

"  Pelham  April  4"'  1798.  This  may  certif)^  that  Lt  Jeremiah 
McMillen  and  Joel  Conkey  has  agreed  Before  us  that  Conkey  is  to 
take  McFall  and  his  wife  this  year  for  Sixteen  Pounds  without  the 
cow,  and  Conkey  to  have  the  cow  towards  the  Sixteen  Pounds,  if  the 
Town  Consent  to  sell  her  for  what  sum  Conkey  and  the  Town  shall 
agree  for  at  the  Aprisal  of  Men  such  as  Conkey  and  the  town  shall 
agree  upon  these  to  the  other  selectmen  of  Pelham. 

Nehemiah  Hinds,  Alexander  Berry,  David  Conkey,  John 
Peebles,  Selectmen.  " 

The  transfer  of  pews  in  the  first  parish  meeting-house  from  one  to 
another  was  made  by  deed  in  due  form.  Here  follows  the  deed  of 
Jonathan  Killogg  to  Levi  Gray.  The  deed  conveys  one-quarter  of 
Killogg's  pew,  and  is  the  same  pew  that  Andrew  Abercrombie  sold 
to  Killogg  on  the  25th  of  June,  1796,  for  $13.  'Phe  sum  Gray  pays 
for  one-quarter  indicates  over  100  per  cent,  advance  in  the  value  of 
pew  property  in  tw^o  years. 

"  Know  all  men  by  these  Presents  that  I  Jonathan  Killog  of  Pelham  in 
tlie  County  of  Hampshire,  cordwainer,  Do  in  Consideration  of  Seven  Dol- 
lars to  me  in  hand  paid  by  Levi  Gray  of  town  and  County  above  Named,  do 
Bargain  with  and  sell  unto  the  said  Levi  one  4*''  of  a  Certain  Pew  in  the 
West  Parish  Meeting  House,  s'*  Pew  is  situated  under  the  Gallery  Stairs  at 
the  South  East  Corner  of  the  Meeting  House  I"'  of  s"^  Pew  is  improved  by 
Ezekiel  Baker  and  Samuel  Rodes  and  is  Bounded  west  by  Dr  Southworths 
pew.  North  by  the  Alley  to  the  stairs,  East  by  the  stairway,  south  by  the 
walk  of  s'*  meeting  house,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  above  one  4"'  of  s**  pew 
free  from  all  Incumberance  of  Every  Name  or  Nature  and  that  the  s"*  Jona- 
than do  Warrant  secure  and  Defend  the  same  to  the  s''*  Levi  his  heirs  and 
Assigns  against  all  Claims  and  Demands  Whatever,  in  Witness  hereof  I 
have  set  my  Hand  in  Presents  of  Jonathan  Killogg 

Attest,  Christopher  Patten 
Pelham  Dec  12"'  1798" 


lyo  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Meeting,   Sept.   io,    1799. 

The  main  business  of  this  meeting  is  set  forth  in  article  two  of  the 
warrant : 

'•To  see  if  the  Town  will  grant  a  privilege  to  a  Numlier  of  their  Inhabit- 
ance  to  Build  Horse  Shades  near  the  first  Parish  meeting  house  where  the 
Town  shall  see  fit.'" 

It  was  "  Voted  that  their  is  a  privilege  to  any  Person  that  has  a 
mind  to  Build  Horse  Shades, — Voted  to  chuse  a  committee  to  see 
where  it  is  Most  Convenient  to  Build  Horse  Shades  on  the  Town 
Land,  s''  Committee  is  Dea  Gray,  Nahum  Wage  and  Jonathan  Hoed. 
— said  committee  reported  that  their  opinion  is  that  it  is  most  con- 
venient to  Build  Horse  Shades  on  the  south  side  of  the  grave  yard 
wall.  David  Conkey,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  May  5,  1800. 

The  vendue  master's  services  were  called  in  at  this  meeting  as  per 
record  : 

"  Voted  to  set  up  Francis  Straton  to  the  Lowest  Bidder  by  the 
week  to  the  next  Annual  Meeting,  they  that  bids  him  oft  is  to  Bord 
wash  and  Nurse  him  in  Common  health  and  the  Extraordinary  Doc- 
tring  Nursing  and  Clothing  is  to  be  paid  by  the  Town  in  time  of 
Sickness, — Struck  of  to  Ebenezer  Wright  at  six  shillings  a  week."' 

Meeting,    Nov.   2,    iSoi. 

Originally  there  were  ten  acres  of  land  set  apart  at  the  center  of 
the  town  for  a  common,  training  field  and  burying  ground,  and  by 
the  plan  of  the  tract  containing  the  first  division  into  homelots  it 
will  be  seen  that  a  portion  of  this  ten  acres  was  taken  from  lot  No.  i 
or  the  minister's  lot.  Some  of  this  land  was  east  of  the  burial 
ground  and  the  town  had  been  called  upon  to  lease  or  sell  it  in  a 
number  of  town  meetings.  Li  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  the 
following  article  : 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  sell  the  land  belonging  to  said  Town  lying  East 
of  the  Graveyard  and  North  of  the  turnpike  road  at  the  Request  of  a  num- 
ber of  Petitioners,  and  pass  all  votes  Nesessary  to  carry  such  sail  into 
effect." 

Action  on  article  as  recorded:  "Voted  to  sell  the  land  Belonging 
to  the  Town  East  of  the  Graveyard  and  North  of  the  turnpike  road 
as  far  south  as  the  south  side  of  the  school  house,  with  a  reserve  of 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  171 

the  Land  the  school  house  stands  on  and  the  Cross  Road. — Voted 
to  sell  said  land  at  Publick  Vendue,  and  to  chuse  a  Committee  to 
accomplish  said  Sale. — Nehemiah  Hinds,  David  Conkey  and  John 
Rinken  Committee.  Voted  that  the  above  Committee  shall  guarantee 
to  the  purchaser  that  the  Town  shall  not  Use  their  land  Southerly  of 
the  school  house  and  North  of  the  turnpike  road,  for  any  use  except 
a  Common.  Nehemiah   Hinds.  Moderator." 

About  this  time  the  people  became  somewhat  excited  by  a  propo- 
sition to  build  a  turnpike  from  Belchertown  to  Greenwich  and  Hard- 
wick  which  would  leave  the  town  sidetracked,  and  they  began  to 
work  in  opposition  to  the  project  upon  information  received  from 
Capt.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  then  representative  at  the  General  Court. 

Meeting,  Feb.  i,  1802, 
Was  called  to  act  on  a  matter  of  public  interest  as  per  article : 
••  To  see  if  the  town  will  send  a  Memorial  to  the  General  Court  against 
the  proposed  turnpike  Road  from  Belchertown  to  intersect  w^ith  the  Sixth 
Massachusetts  turnpike  somewhere  between  Major  Powers  of  Greenwich 
and  General  Warners  in  Hardwick  according  tO'  the  Request  01  a  Letter 
sent  to  the  Selectmen  of  Pelliam  by  their  Representative.'' 

The  people  assembled  and  "Voted  that  the  Selectmen  shall  send 
a  remonstrance  to  the  General  Court  against  the  proposed  turnpike 
in  behalf  of  the  town.  John  Rinken,  Moderator." 

Meeting,   Sept.   17,    1S02. 

It  was  "  Voted  to  chuse  two  agents  to  attend  on  the  Committee 
appointed  by  the  General  Court  of  the  Commonwealth  to  Examine 
and  report  to  the  said  General  Court  Respecting  the  Expedincy  and 
Utility  of  the  Road  Petitioned  for  by  Benjemin  Hooker  and  others 
to  be  Established  as  a  turnpike  Road  at  Esqr  Fields  in  Greenwich  on 
the  2  I  day  of  this  instant.  Chose  Esq'  Isaac  Abercrombie  and  Dea 
Nathaniel  Sampson  agents  for  the  above  purpose." 

Meeting,  Nov.   i,   1802. 

Was  called  to  consider  a  very  important  proposition  as  set  forth  in 
warrant  : 

'•  To  see  if  the  Town  will  consider  the  Request  of  a  Committee  from  New^ 
Salem  in  Joining  the  Neighboring  towns  Respecting  or  otherwise  providing 
a  work  House  for  the  Reception  and  employment  of  the  Poor  at  the  joint 
expense  and  for  the  Common  Benetit  of  such  towns  and  Chuse  an  Agent  or 


1^2  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

a  Committee  to  meet  at  the  House  of  John  Smith,  Inholder,  in  New  Salem 
on  the  first  Monday  of  January  Next  at  Eleven  oclock  A.  M.  with  such 
Instructions  as  the  town  shall  think  Proper." 

Meeting  dissolved  without  action  on  the  article. 

The  people  of  Pelham  had  known  but  little  about  the  poor  ;  the 
word  pauper  is  not  found  on  the  records  up  to  the  receiving  of  the 
above  proposition  to  build  a  Work  House  for  the  common  benefit  of 
the  neighboring  towns,  including  Pelham.  Probably  for  fifty  years 
from  the  incorporation  of  the  town  they  had  kept  the  poor  from  set- 
tling in  the  town,  or  warned  them  out  if  such  persons  came  into  the 
town  without  first  obtaining  permission  to  settle,  and  consequently 
were  not  in  sympathy  with  the  proposition  from  New  Salem.  They 
did  nothing  to  encourage  poverty  or  shiftlessness,  and  perhaps 
thought  building  a  work  house  would  encourage  people  to  apply  for 
aid,  and  who  would  prefer  a  snug  home  in  a  work  house  rather  than 
being  vendued  to  the  lowest  bidder. 

Meeting,   Sept.  7,   1804. 

"Voted  to  raise  $70  to  purchis  town  stock  of  military  stores  for 
the  town.  Dr.  Hinds,  David  Conkey  chosen  committee  to  purchis 
the  town  stock. 

Voted  $-jo.gg  to  defray  the  expense  of  building  a  bridge  over 
Swift  river,  so  called. 

Voted  to  set  up  Samuel  Nash^  boarding  and  washing  by  the  week 
to  the  lowest  bidder  until  next  annual  meeting  unless  it  proves  he  is 
not  an  inhabitant  of  the  town,  then  struck  of  as  proposed  above  to 
Nahum  Wage  the  Keeping  of  Samuel  Nash  at  Ninety-Nine  cents  per 
week.'" 

Meeting,  Nov.  5,   1804. 

The  sole  business  of  this  meeting  was  to  consider  the  question  of 
building  a  pound.  The  last  one  built  was  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  graveyard  near  the  meeting-house  ;  it  was  built  of  wood  and  had 
probably  become  useless  by  this  time. 

"Voted  to  build  a  Pound  in  said  Town.  Voted  that  the  Pound 
shall  stand  on  Mr  Hach' '  land  below  the  Blacksmith  shop  on  the 
Rite  hand  side  of  the  turnpike  Road.  Voted  that  the  Pound  is  to  be 
made  with  a  stone  wall  of  five  feet  thick  at  the  bottom  and  six  feet 
and  one  half  high  with  a  Squair  timber  on  the  lop  of  Eight  inches 
squair." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 73 

Voted  to  chuse  a  committee  of  three  men  (Viz)  Esqr  Abercrombie, 
Doct  Hinds  and  Landlord  Hach  to  build  said  Pown 

Samuel  Josline,  Moderator." 

Deed  of  a  Pew  in  the  First  Parish  Meeting-House. 

Robert  Lotheridge^  Deed  to  Freedom  Chamberlain.  Know  all  men  by 
these  Presents  that  I  Robert  Lotheridge  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of 
Hampshire  and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  Cordwinder,  in  Consider- 
ation of  ten  Dollars  paid  by  Freedom  Chamberlain  jun  of  Pelham  in  the 
County  and  state  aforesaid  Cordwinder  the  receipt  whereof  I  do  hereby 
acknowledge — do  Hereby  grant  sell  and  convey  unto  the  said  Freedom 
Chamberlain  a  certain  half  of  a  Pew  in  the  iirst  Parish  Meeting  house  in 
Pelham  upon  the  Lower  floor — Said  Pew  stands  in  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  Body  Pews  in  said  meeting  house  formerly  belonging  to  My  Honored 
Father  Reuben  Lotheridge  Decest,  with  reserve  of  one  seat  for  my  Honored 
Mother  so  long  as  she  remains  a  widow  or  Removes  from  said  Pelham.  To 
have  and  to  Hold  the  above  granted  premises  to  the  said  Freedom  his  Heirs 
and  assigns  to  his  and  thair  use  and  behoof  forever  and  do  Covenant  with 
the  said  Freedom  his  Heirs  and  assigns  that  I  am  lawfully  Seized  in  fee  of 
the  above  granted  premisses,  that  they  are  free  of  all  incumbrances,  that  I 
have  good  right  to  sell  and  convey  the  same  to  the  said  Freedom  and  that  I 
will  warrant  and  Defend  the  same  premisses  to  the  s'^  freedom  his  Heirs 
and  Assigns  forever  Against  the  Lawful  Claims  and  Demands  of  all  Persons. 
Dec.  24,  1804.  Robert  Lotheridge, 

Mary  Lotheridge. 

Meeting,   April   i,   1805. 

"  It  was  voted  that  one  third  of  the  town  meetings  should  hereafter 
be  held  at  the  second  parish  meeting  house." 

Meeting,  May  29,   1805. 

The  town  was  called  together  to  consider  the  proposition  contained 
n  this  article : 

•'  Article  2  For  the  town  to  vote  that  all  those  Persons  living  on  the 
turnpike  Road  to  work  out  their  proportion  of  thare  Highway  taxes  the  year 
ensuing  on  s'^  turnpike  Road  Providing  the  Directors  of  s''  turnpike  road 
will  Discontinue  the  gate  in  s"*  town  of  Pelham  the  year  ensuing." 

Israel  Conkey  was  chosen  moderator  and  Article  2  was  passed 
over  in  short  order  and  the  meeting  was  at  an  end.  We  learn  by 
this  that  the  directors  of  the  turnpike  company  had  a  toll  gate  in  the 
town. 


174  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Meeting,  Oct.  23,   1805. 

There  had  been  a  vote  passed  to  have  one-third  of  the  town  meet- 
ings at  the  Second  Parish.  This  was  the  first  town  meeting  called 
at  the  Second  Parish  meeting  house.  For  sixty-three  years  or  more 
all  town  meetings  were  held  at  the  First  or  West  parish  meeting- 
house and  the  assembling  of  the  voters  on  Pelham  East  hill  must 
have  been  a  day  to  be  remembered.  The  business  of  the  meeting 
was  stated  in  the  second  article  : 

"  For  the  Town  to  Grant  a  sum  of  money  to  Defray  the  unexpected 
expenses  of  Supporting  the  poor  of  said  town." 

As  the  fixed  belief  of  the  town  from  its  settlement  was  that  there 
should  be  no  poor  persons  in  the  town  this  call  for  more  money  for 
the  Poor  was  not  pleasant,  and  when  the  second  article  came  up  the 
people  promptly  passed  it  over,  but  on  second  thought  recalled  it 
and  "Voted  to  raise  $100  to  Defray  town  Charges."  rather  than  "for 
supporting  the  Poor,"  as  expressed  in  the  warrant.  Joseph  Akers 
was  moderator. 

Meeting,   Nov,   22,   1805. 

The  location  of  the  school-house  in  the  middle  district  of  the  first 
Parish  was  not  satisfactory  to  some  and  this  meeting  was  called  to 
act  upon  the  question  of  changing  the  location,  and  we  copy  the 
recorded  vote :  "  Voted  Liberty  to  have  the  school  house  in  the 
Middle  District  of  the  West  Parish  of  Pelham  Removed  to  near  the 
Eand  of  the  stone  wall  North  of  Robert  Ormstons  store  and  on  the 
East  sid  of  the  Cross  Rode  Deeding  thairby  provided  Mr  Ormston 
moves  it  on  his  own  Cost  and  puts  it  in  as  good  Repair  as  it  now 
stands.  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  of  three, — said  Committee  is 
Lt  Rinken,  Doct  Hinds  and  David  Conkey.  Voted  that  said  com- 
mittee is  impowered  to  Transfair  by  Deed  or  otherways  the  Land  the 
said  school  House  now  stands  on  for  a  school  House  spot  Discribed 
in  the  second  vote  of  said  meeting.  Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting 
to  Landlord  Haches  for  one  Hour.        John  Rinken,  Moderator." 

It  seems  that  Mr.  Ormston  was  in  the  mercantile  business;  he  had 
a  store,  and  was  to  pay  the  cost  of  moving  the  school-house.  I'he 
place  selected  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  cross  road  that  crossed  the 
middle  range  road  ;  the  middle  range  road  running  east  and  west, 
and  the  cross  road  north  and  south. 


town  meeting  records.  1 75 

Annual  Meeting,  March  3,  1806 
Was  called  at  the  West  parish  meeting-house,  and  after  the  officers 
were  chosen  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  Second  parish  meeting- 
house at  2  p.  iM.  the  same  clay  to  complete  the  list,  and  transact  other 
unimportant  business;  quite  an  undertaking  when  we  consider  the 
condition  of  the  roads  in  the  month  of  March,  and  that  the  Second 
parish  meeting-house  was  three  and  a  half  miles  away. 

After  the  first,  second  and  third  divisions  of  land  were  drawn  by 
lot  there  were  still  portions  of  land  left  and  termed  common  lands, 
and  the  third  article  of  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  had  reference  to 
such  lands. 

'•  3'^  to  see  if  the  town  will  Look  up  the  Common  Lands  in  said  town  and 
accertain  what  Number  of  acres  thair  are,  and  whether  they  will  sell  it,  and 
pass  all  votes  the  Subject  requires." 

"  Voted  to  chuse  a  committee  to  look  up  the  Common  lands  so 
called — s''  committee  is  Isaac  Abercrombie  Esq  Lt  John  Rinken  and 
Joseph  Akers.  They  also  voted  that  the  Proprietors  book  containing 
a  record  of  all  the  lands  in  town  should  be  lodged  in  the  town  clerk's 
office.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  Nov.  20,    1806. 

Those  living  along  the  turnpike  were  not  at  all  satisfied  with  the 
action  of  the  voters  who  lived  at  a  distance  from  the  turnpike  in 
voting  at  a  former  meeting  to  "  pass  the  article "  asking  to  be 
allowed  to  workout  a  portion  of  their  taxes  on  the  turnpike,  and  the 
town  was  called  together  again  on  the  same  business.  I'his  time  the 
true  inwardness  of  their  desire  is  expressed  in  the  wording  of  their 
article  in  the  warrant.  They  asked  as  before  to  work  out  a  portion 
of  their  taxes  on  the  turnpike  "  Provided  the  turnpike  gate  in  said 
town  shall  be  kept  open  and  free  from  tole."  It  was  of  no  use — the 
voters  away  from  the  turnpike  sat  down  on  the  proposition  by  "vot- 
ing to  Pass  the  Article.  Joseph  W.  Hamilton,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  March  2,    1807. 

In  the  records  of  the  west  or  first  parish  found,  elsewhere  is 
the  action  of  the  parish  upon  the  petition  of  Andrew  Hyde  and 
others  living  near  the  west  border  of  the  town  who  wished  to  be  set 
off  to  Amherst  as  far  as  pertained  to  parochial  purposes  in  1812  ; 
but  Article   7    of  this  warrant   shows  that  an   attempt  to  be  set  off 


176  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

from  the  town,  with  their  farms,  had    been  made    by    Samuel    and 

Andrew  Hyde,  who  Hved  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town  on  the 

farm  now  (1897)  occupied  by  Hiram  Ballou. 

The  article  on  which  Samnel  and  Andrew  Hyde  asked  action  was  : 
"To  see  if  tlie  town  of  Pelham  will  vote  to  set  off  Samuel  Hyde    and 

Andrew  Hyde  from  Said   town   and  annext  them  to  the  Town  of  Amherst 

with  their  lands  in  Said  town  of  Pelham." 

The  town  voted  to  pass  the  article.  The  meeting  was  then 
adjourned  to  the  east  parish  meeting  house  on  the  first  Monday  in 
May.  John  Conkey,   Moderator. 

Meeting,  March  7,    180S. 

It  was  voted  to  hold  the  May  meeting  at  the  East  parish.  Voted 
that  the  selectmen  be  a  committee  to  examine  the  road  from  the 
turnpike  to  Samuel  Arnold's  house  and  report  as  they  think  best  at 
the  May  meeting. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Marson  Eaton,  the  collector  of  the  West 
parish  for  the  year  1808,  was  on  record  to  do  the  work  for  nothing 
and  Joseph  Akin,  the  collector  for  the  East  parish,  was  to  do  the 
work  and  pay  two  cents  on  each  pound  for  the  privilege. 


From  1809  to  1815. 


T7V0  Candidates  for  Representative  to  the  General  Court,  i8og. —  Taxes 
Upon  the  People,  i8og. —  Ihe  Abercrombie  Brothers,  Isaac  and 
Jai7ies,  Candidates  for  Kepresentatii^e,  1810. — The  6th  Mass. 
Turnpike  Corporation  Tries  to  Discontinue  Their  Road  Through 
Tnvn,  1810. — County  Road  to  Etifield  Laid  Out,  1811. —  Go7>' 
ernor  Petitioned  to  Restore  the  Two  Military  Companies  to  their 
Former  Regiments,  18 12. — Fear  of  a  Draft  for  the  War  of 
18 1 2. —  Wages  of  Detached  Soldiers  Raised,  18 14. —  The  East 
Parish  asks  to  be  Set  Off  As  a  Town  By  Itself  1815. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Pelham  tax  bills,  A.  D.  1809  : 
"Committed  to  Jonathan  Wood  and  Marson   Eaton  Collectors   of  said 
Town  Containing  the  following  Sums.     Viz — State  Tax  set  at  30  cents  on 
poll,  2  cts  on  the  Dollar  contains  the  sum  of  $225.19 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


177 


School  Tax  set  at  61  cents  on  the  pole  and  4  cents  on  the 

Dollar  Contain, 
Town  Grants  and  County  Tax  set  at  61  cents  on  the  Poll, 

and  4  cents  on  the  Dollar  Contains 
Which  they  are  to  Pay  to  the  said   Treasurers    Directed 

in  these  Warrants. 


$454.46 
$454.39 


Pelham  Sept  1809. 


John  Rankin  Jun 

Robert  Crossett     . 

David  Conkey  Jun.  )  Pelham.' 


)  Assessor 
^         of 


Atkins,  Joseph 
Airs,  Beunos 
Ballard,  Joshua 
Baker,  John 
Berry,  Alexander 
Butler,  Daniel 
Brigham,  I3arnabas 
Brigham,  Liscomb 
Clifford,  P.  Daniel 
Crossett,  James 
Conkey,  Alexander 
Conkey.  James 
Conkey,  William 
Conkey,  Thomas 
Cooley.  Obadiah 
Crossett,  Robert 
Conkey,  Alexander  Jun. 
Felton  &  Conkev 
Felton,  Nathan  ' 
Gray,  Patrick  Jun. 
Gray,  Patrick 
Gray,  Moses  2'' 
Gray,  Jeremiah 
Gray,  Daniels  heirs 
Green,  John 
Hunter,  Wilkins 
Hinds,  Nehemiah 
Hunt,  Alden 
Hathaway,  Jonathan 
Hyde,  James 


Abercrombie,  Isaac 
Abercrombie,  James 
Abercrombie,  William 
Andross,  Stephen 
Abby,  Sabin 
Arnold,  Samuel 

Do     Cook  Farm 
Arnold,  Ephraim 
Andross,  Asa 
Braley,  Solomon 
Baldwin,  William 
Bryant,  Ichabod 


EAST 

PARISH. 

8  81 

Hoar,  John 

8  84 

3  72 

Hoar,  Calvin 

1   52 

I  82 

Jennings,  Roswell 

7  82 

2  05 

Knight,  William 

6  44 

ID    67 

Millen,  Levi 

2     12 

Millen,  Jonathan 

II    17 

8  44 

Millen,  William 

14  27 

6  62 

Miller,  John  &  Rufus 

9  44 

I   52 

Meklam,  John 

13  94 

4  62 

Mills,  Brigham 

6  25 

3  30 

Mills.  James 

3  92 

I   70 

Miller,  David  &  William 

5  53 

12  04 

Powers.  Isaac  Doct 

2  32 

8  67 

Richardson,  Jonathan 

9   14 

5  82 

Sears,  Roland 

5  84 

8  72 

Sloan,  Samuel 

7  94 

3  30 

Sloan,  David  &  Gardener 

5  42 

10  86 

Staples,  Elias 

5  oS 

4  75 

Sloan,  Samuel  Jun. 

I   52 

1   52 

Sloan,  Andrew 

I  52 

3  75 

Titus,  Sylvester 

5  27 

2  41 

Taylor,  Lyman 

I  52 

I   52 

Stockwell,  Peter 

4    J2 

2  00 

Vaughn,  Thomas 

4   27 

I  52 

Williams,  Silas 

4    12 

12  08 

Wright,  Gad 

2  60 

24  02 

Wheeler,  Edward 

4  67 

I   52 

Wright,  Ebenezer 

I    21 

9  23 

Wright,  Gains 

2    19 

3  74 

WEST 

PARISH. 

10   72 

Harkness,  Joel 

4  62 

7   14 

HoListin,  Robert 

6  72 

2  99 

Heyden,  Thomas 

3   13 

4  56 

Housten,  David 

3  29 

662 

Hamilton,  Joseph 

8   14 

ID  86 

Hamilton,  Oliver 

4  45 

I  00 

Harlow,  Thomas 

I   36 

I   52 

Hamilton,  Isaac 

I   52 

Inman,  William 

3  29 

4  32 

Johnston.  Adam 

7  50 

I   62 

^  oslin,  Joseph 

6  67 

5  28 

Janes,  Stephen 

4  ?,7 

178 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Boyington,  Silas 

5  44 

Brown,  Ezra 

4  20 

Brown,  William 

4  70 

Butterworth,  John 

2  42 

Bayington,  Ebenezer 

I  62 

Bayington,  Asa 

I   25 

Ballew,  Stephen 

I    22 

Crozier,  Artimus 

3  91 

Cook,  Silas 

I   90 

Cook,  Eseck 

II    17 

Do      Preserved  Farm 

2  30 

Cook,  James 

2  53 

Cook,  Adams 

3  04 

Clark,  Samuel 

4  07 

Conkey,  Isaac 

5  22 

Conkey,  U avid  2'' 

3  40 

Conkey,  Elisha 

7  24 

Cowen,  James 

7  09 

Cowen,  George  Heirs 

5  46 

Conkey,  David 

4  86 

Conkey,  David  Jun. 

3  34 

Conkey,  John 

4  «5 

Conkey,  Isreal 

4  48 

Conkey,  John  Jun. 

3   19 

Conkey,  Warren 

I   52 

Capron,  Otis 

I   52 

Crawford,  John  &  Levi 

9  50 

Curtis.  Oliver 

654 

Conkey,  Alexander 

I  60 

Carpenter,  Daniel 

2   12 

Cowen,  Willard 

I   52 

Conkey,  Rheuben 

I  52 

Cowen,  Josiah 

1   52 

Dwelley,  Aaron 

262 

Dunlap,  William 

5  70 

Dunlap,  James 

5  70 

Dunlap,  John 

4  57 

Danforth,  Elijah 

7  52 

Davidson,  Phineas 

6  24 

Dodge,  Nathaniel 

5  84 

Draper,  Lewis 

8  89 

Dunbar,  Josiah 

I  52 

Dodge,  Daniel 

2  52 

Eaton,  M arson 

7  33 

Do      Southerbies  Farm 

I    10 

Eaton,  Walter 

7  52 

Edson,  Seth 

6  87 

Failes,  Sewel 

3  55 

Gilson,  Riley 

2  90 

Gilson,  Nathan 

II   21 

Gilson,  Nathan  Jun. 

2  42 

Gaskin,  William 

6  47 

Griffin,  David 

•   52 

Griffin,  Jonathan 

2  37 

Grout,  Joel 

8  4' 

Gray,  Ebenezer  &  John 

>5  58 

Gray,  folin 

s  82 

GooId,"Haffield 

5   17 

Greenwood,  Daniel 

5  00 

Johnston,  Silas 

Kelley,  Wing 
do      Allen  Farm 

King,  Robert 
King,  Peter 

Kingman,  Henry 

Do      Washbun  farm 
do      Ormstonfarm 

Leach,  Marvelous 

Leach,  Jonathan 

Lincoln,  Isaac 

Miller,  Samuel 

McColluck,  Henry 

Miller,  Moses 

Macomber.  George 

May,  Isaac 

Newel,  David  Jr. 

Newel,  Levi 

Otis,  Isaac  Jun. 

Oliver,  William 

Packard,  Daniel 

Packard,  Elijah 

Packard,  Thomas 

Packard,  Jonathan 

Packard,  Job 

Packard,  Eliab 

Peso,  Samuel 

Packard,  Jacob  Jun 

Peck,  F  Jesse 

Potter,  Olney  Doct 

Randall,  Gideon 

Randall,  Ephriam 

Rankin,  John 

Rankin,  John  Jun 

Rankin,  James 

Reniff,  Abisha 

Rider,  Isaac 

Reniff,  Morey 

Smith,  Oliver 

Swan,  Duty  &  Robert 

Sterns,  Jasper 

.Shaw,  Asa 

Smith,  William 

Tower,  Isaac  Jun 
Do      Shaw  Farm 

Turner,  Elis 

Taft.  Jared 

Tower,  Isaac 

Tliurston,  Paul 

Thurston,  Elisebeth 

Thomson,  James 

Thomson,  James  Jun 

Thomson,  John  Heirs 

Thomson,  Daniel 

Thomson,  Thomas 

Terel,  Noah 

Taylor,  John 

Wheeler,  Joseph 
Do      Baldwin  farm 


5 

57 

8 

89 

I 

80 

3 

82 

8 

37 

II 

49 

2 

00 

80 

6 

17 

5 

20 

7 

44 

I 

52 

I 

52 

3 

90 

5 

02 

I 

92 

4 

37 

3 

17 

2 

32 

3 

47 

5 

07 

4 

72 

2 

75 

6 

64 

6 

12 

6 

17 

4 

34 

4 

32 

485 

9 

12 

I 

52 

3 

42 

8 

97 

5 

97 

6 

32 

7 

84 

3 

91 

I 

52 

6 

66 

3 

6g 

92 

2 

77 

10 

22 

3 

77 

80 

1 

52 

4  92 

I 

52 

4 

07 

I 

5J 

3 

00 

4 

27 

2 

60 

4 

02 

3 

37 

3 

27 

5 

24 

2 

40 

60 

■HE   JEWETT   FARM    HOUSE. 


J.    K.    AXDEKSOXS    HOUSE 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 79 


Gray,  Elliot 

5  72 

Wood,  Jonathan 

7  32 

Hannum,  Plinne 

4  34 

Wood,  Daniel 

2  52 

Harkness,  John 

8   12 

Waiscoat,  Rheuben 

2  57 

Harkness,  David 

5  02 

Do      Southwards  farm 

I  40 

Hyde,  Samuel 

2  80 

Ward  John 

3  5- 

Hyde,  Andrew 

3  52 

Wilson  William 

3  02 

Hannum,  David 

2  87 

Wilson.  William  Jun 

3  " 

Hood,  Jonathan 

11  09 

Wedge,  Nahum 

5  75 

Hall,  Lemuel 

4  9- 

Wells,  Augustin 

2  27 

Howard,  Joseph 

7   -3 

Williams,  Henry 

2  82 

Harkness,  Daniel 

5  57 

The  footings  of  these  taxes  will  not  equal  the  amounts  called  for 
in  the  warrant  because  of  the  non-resident  taxes  which  are  not  given 
in  the  above  list,  but  it  shows  the  amount  of  every  man's  tax  that 
was  assessed  that  year. 

The  rate  as  stated  in  the  tax  bills  as  delivered  to  the  collectors, 
was  two  cents  on  the  dollar  for  the  state  tax,  and  four  cents  for  the 
school  tax  and  the  same  for  to\yn  and  county  tax.  Putting  it 
another  way,  it  was  $20  on  the  $1000  for  state  tax,  and  $40  per 
$1000  for  school  and  town  and  county.  A  very  high  rate  but  the 
valuation  was  low. 

Fortunately  we  have  the  money  value  or  cost  of  one  farm  that  was 
taxed  in  iSog, — that  of  Samuel  Arnold.  Mr.  Arnold  paid  $3000  for 
the  farm  in  the  year  1800  and  probably  that  was  a  fair  price  for  it  in 
1809  if  worth  $3000  in  iSoo.  Eseck  Cook  purchased  his  farm  in 
1806  paying  ^3000  for  it. 

The  price  for  taxation  by  the  valuation  in  1809  was  exceedingly 
low,  as  appears  when  we  separate  the  items  that  make  up  Arnold's 
total  tax  of  $11.86,  State  tax,  one  poll,  30  cts.,  real  estate  $1.64, 
personal  22  cts.,  total  tax  ^2.16.  This  sum  less  the  poll  tax  is 
$1.86.  x^s  the  tax  rate  is  two  cents  on  the  dollar,  the  total  of  real 
and  personal  estate  for  purposes  of  taxation  was  only  $93.  But 
there  were  two  rates,  one  of  two  cents  on  the  dollar,  and  one  of  four 
cents  on  the  dollar,  and  three  separate  taxes  were  assessed. 

The  school  tax,  four  cents  on  the  above  total  valuation  of  $93,  and 
a  poll  tax  of  61  cents,  amounts  to  $4-35 

The  town  and  county  tax  is  the  same  as  the  school  tax      4.35 
State  tax  as  above  2.16 

Cook  farm,  three  separate  taxes,  20,  40,  40^  i.oo  $11.86 

An  examination  of  the  list  of  taxes  given  for  the  West  parish  shows 
that  the  seven  heaviest  town  tax-payers  were  Ebenezer  and  John 
Gray,  $15.58;  William    Smith,    $14.79;    Henry    Kingman,    $14.29; 


l8o  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Samuel  Arnold,  $i  1.86  ;  Nathan  Gilson,  ^i  1.2 1  ;  Eseck  Cook,  $11.17; 
Jonathan  Hood,  $11.09.  ^^  ^^^  East  parish,  comprising  that 
part  of  Pelham  which  is  now  Prescott,  the  seven  largest  tax-payers 
were  Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds,  $24.02  ;  William  Miller,  $14.27  ;  John 
Maklam,  $13.94;  Wilkins  Hunter,  $12.08  ;  Jonathan  Miller,  $11.17  ; 
Felton  &  Conkey,  $10.86;  Alexander  Berry,  $10.67.  Besides  the 
three  taxes  above  named,  there  was  the  parish  tax  for  the  support  of 
the  Gospel. 

Meeting,    May  7,    18 10. 

Was  for  choice  of  a  representative  to  the  General  Court  for  the 
session  opening  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  May  instant.  James 
Abercrombie  received  69  votes  ;  Isaac  Abercrombie  received  67 
votes.  The  defeated  candidate  had  served  for  several  terms  but 
failed  of  a  re-election.  His  brother.  James  Abercrombie,  being 
elected  by  a  majority  of  two. 

Both  were  sons  of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie,  the  first  settled  min- 
ister in  the  town.  It  was  a  contest  that  quite  likely  brought  out  a 
full  voting  strength  of  the  town. 

Meeitno,   Dpx.  3.   18 10. 

The  Sixth  Massachusetts  turnpike  corporation  was  chartered  and 
incorporated  in  1799.  The  company  had  built  a  turnpike  through  the 
town  and  had  collected  tolls  from  the  people,  but  had  maintained 
the  road  at  their  own  cost ;  for  some  reason,  probably  because  the 
travel  on  the  turnpike  was  not  sufficient  to  make  any  money  for  the 
Company,  they  proposed  to  discontinue  the  part  that  ran  through 
Pelham.  This  action  was  not  pleasing  to  the  people  of  the  town  and 
the  warrant  for  the  Dec.  3d  meeting  had  the  following  article  : 

"To  see  what  method  the  town  will  Take  in  Answer  to  Order  of  Notice 
from  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Turnpike  Corporation  for  Discontinueing 
said  road  through  said  town  and  pass  any  vote  respecting  the  same  they 
shall  think  proper." 

Action  of  town  on  above  article,  first  Major  John  Conkey  was 
chosen  moderator  and  then  it  was  ''Voted  Unanimously  to  Remon- 
strate against  the  Discontinuance  of  that  part  of  the  Sixth  Massa- 
chusetts Turnpike  road  through  the  town  of  Pelham.  Voted  to  Choose 
a  Committee  of  five  to  Draught  a  Remonstrance  to  send  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court,   the  selectmen  to  be  the  above  Committee  viz  Major  John 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  t8i 

Conkey,  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Andrew  Hyde,  Roland  Sears  and 
Jonathan  Richardson.— Voted  that  Mr.  James  Abercrombie  use  his 
influence  to  oppose  the  Discontinuance  of  said  road  through 
Pelham.'' 

Meeting,  May  6,   iSii. 

This  meeting  was  called  to  act  upon  to  the  proposition  to  lay  out  a 
County  road  from  Amherst  through  the  south  part  Pelham  to  Green- 
wich south  line.  It  was  a  revival  of  the  project  started  in  1809, 
the  town  opposing  it  at  that  time. 

The  article  reads  as  follows  : 

"  To  see  whether  the  Town  will  Chuse  Agents  to  oppose  a  County  Road 
being  laid  from  Amherst  to  Greenwich  through  the  south  part  of  Pelham 
as  the  order  of  notice  of  John  Williams  and  others  shall  show." 

The  opposition  was  of  no  avail,  and  the  county  road  from  Amherst 
to  South  Greenwich,  now  Enfield,  was  built  in  18 12. 

Meeting,   May  27,  1S12. 

"  Voted,  that  the  town  of  Pelham  as  a  Town  Petition  the  Execu- 
tive that  both  the  Militia  Companys  be  reinstated  to  their  former 
Regiments.  Chose  Isaac  Abercrombie  Esq,  Capt  Henry  Kingman 
and  Asa  Shaw  a  committee  to  draft  a  petition  and  forward  the  same. 

John  Conkey,  Moderator." 

By  the  action  of  the  town  at  the  special  meeting  it  appears  that 
the  town  had  two  militia  companies,  and  that  for  some  unstated  rea- 
son they  had  been  deposed  from  a  connection  with  certain  regiments 
of  militia  and  the  action  was  to  secure  their  reinstatement. 

Meetinc;,    Oct.    6,    1812. 

This  meeting  was  called  to  act  upon  the  petition  of  Andrew  Hyde 
and  five  or  six  other  citizens  of  the  town  who  lived  near  the  west  line 
of  the  town,  near  Amherst,  who  had  grown  tired  of  climbing  up  the 
hills  to  the  first  parish  meeting  house  to  attend  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel  on  Sunday.  They  had  petitioned  before  and  been  turned 
away,  and  more  determined  than  ever  petitioned  the  General  Court. 
The  article  covering  the  business  in  hand  is  here  given  : 
"  Article  2  For  the  Town  to  take  into  consideration  the  Petition  of 
Andrew  Hyde  and  others  to  the  General  Court  to  be  set  off  witii  their 
Estates  to  the  East  Parish  in  Amherst  and  the  Order  of  Notice  thereon  and 
vote  and  act  as  you  shall  think  fit  when  met." 


I«2  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

"  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Pelham  be  a  Committee 
to  Answer  the  General  Court  on  the  order  of  Notice  sent  to  said 
Town. 

Voted  Not  to  set  off  Andrew  Hyde  and  others  to  the  town  of 
Amherst  as  expressed  in  their  petition. 

John  Rankin,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  July   13,  18 12. 

The  people  of  the  town  had  began  to  fear  that  there  would  be  a 
draft  of  men  for  the  war  with  Great  Britain  which  was  now  imminent, 
and  the  warrant  expresses  the  desire  of  the  people  for  action  in 
advance  of  a  draft. 

"Article  3  To  see  what  Money  or  Any  the  town  will  grant  to  the  Men 
that  are  Drafted  to  go  into  the  service  in  Case  they  should  be  called  out.  in 
addition  to  what  is  Established  by  law." 

Acting  on  the  above  article  it  was  "  Voted  to  Allow  Each  soldier 
two  Dollars  bounty  each,  provided  they  are  called  into  actual  ser- 
vice ;  and  make  them  up  ten  Dollars  per  month  while  they  are  in  the 
service. 

Isaac  Abercrombie  Esq'  was  chosen  an  Agent  from  the  town  to 
meet  at  Northampton  at  a  County  Convention  the  14"'  of  July 
Current.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  Nov.  7,  1814. 

The  main  business  for  which  this  meeting  was  called  being  to 
raise  the  wages  of  detached  soldiers.  The  article  in  the  warrant  was  : 
"  To  see  if  the  town  will  raise  the  wages  of  the  detached  soldiers  to 
twenty  dollars  per  month."' 

The  vote  on  the  above  article  was  "  To  raise  the  detached  sol- 
diers wages.  Voted  to  give  the  detached  soldiers  five  dollars  per 
Month  while  in  service  including  the  want  of  Provisions  in  going  to 
the  place  of  destination." 

Meeting,   May   r,    18 15. 

Was  called  to  act  upon  several  important  matters  of  interest, 
among  them,  the  disposal  of  the  common  lands  north  of  the  grave- 
yard at  the  West  parish  : 

"  Article  4  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  for  the  Second  Parish  in  Pelham 
to  be  Incorporated  into  a  town  with  the  South  part  of  New  Salem." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 83 

They  voted  not  to  sell  the  common  lands,  but  ignored  the  4*''  arti- 
cle entirely  or  failed  to  record  the  action  on  that  article. 

The  East  parish  people  having  been  desirous  of  being  incorporated 
into  a  town  probably  had  this  article  placed  in  the  warrant  in  order 
to  test  the  sentiment  of  the  people  in  the  ^Vest  parish,  but  were  not 
gratified.     They  did  not  give  it  up  however,   for  in  the  warrant  for  a 

Meeting,   May   17,    1815 

the  matter  was  brought  before  the  town  again  under    substantially 
the  same  article. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  and  Jesse  F.  Peck  chosen  moder- 
ator. The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  for  half  an  hour  probably  for 
informal  consultation.  Then  met  and  voted  to  pass  the  article  which 
had  reference  to  the  East  parish  being  incorporated  as  a  separate 
town,  and  chose  a  committee  to  remonstrate  against  it  before  the 
General  Court  where  the  East  parish  people  proposed  to  go  with 
their  case.  William  Miller,  Henry  Kingman  and  Isaac  Abercrombie 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  oppose  the  East  parish  in  the  General 
Court. 


From  1816  to  1824. 


A^ezv  Pelham. —  Order  of  Xotice  From  the  General  Court  to  Show  Why 
the  Prayer  of  the  Second  Parish  Should  Not  be  Granted,  18 IQ, 
—  The  To7vn  Votes  Against  Revising  the  Ovistitution,  1820. — 
The  Last  Act  of  Opposition  to  Setting  Off  the  Second  Parish. — 
The  Town  Rejects  All  of  the  Eleven  Amendments  to  the  Consti- 
tution, 1821. — The  East  Parish  Succeeds  in  Getting  Set  Off  From 
the  Old  Tnun,  1822. — Large  Number  Supported  By  the  Town 
in  1822. — Saleof  Co7Hmon  Lands  and  Proceeds  Go  For  Repairs 
on  the  J^eetins: Llouse,  182^. 


Meeting,  Sept.   15,   1817. 

Following  the  above  meeting  is  the  record  of  the  perambulation  of 
the  town  lines ;  beginning  at  a  hemlock  tree  at  the  southwest  corner 
of   New  Salem,  going  east  to  the  east  line  of  the  town  of    Pelham, 


l84  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

thence  south  between  Pelham  and  Greenwich  formerly  Quabbin, 
until  the  southeast  corner  of  Pelham  was  reached.  We  quote  from 
the  language  of  the  record  now  :  "  Thence  west  to  A  stake  at  the  N. 
E.  corner  of  New  Pelham,  a  white  oak  by  the  brook,  S.  W.  of  Abram 
Packards,  from  thence  to  a  stone  set  up  formerly  for  the  S.  E.  corner 
■of  New  Pelham  which  is  now  the  corner  of  Enfield,  Belchertown  and 
Pelham — ^from  thence  to  an  oak  the  corner  of  Randalls  land  and 
Marked  it  P.  B.  a  chestnut  tree  in  the  woods,  another  in  corner  of 
the  wall,  next  a  stake  on  the  road  S  of  Elijah  Randalls,  next  a  pitch 
pine  Stake  Southwest  corner  of  New  Pelham  ;  a  white  oak  stake  the 
N  W  corner  of  New  Pelham  ;  thence  west  to  a  white  oak  tree 
on  the  road  N  of  R  Browns. — a  stake  on  the  road  North  of 
Pettengalls,  a  chestnut  tree  in  the  road,  a  chestnut  tree  on  the  top  of 
the  hill,  a  white  oak  on  the  line  of  the  Hyde  farm, — closed  the  line 
between  Belchertown  and  Pelham  at  a  stake  standing  W  of  the  road 
.and  northerly  from  John  Thayers  and  marked  it  P.  B.  &  P.  A." 

They  are  now  at  the  Southwest  corner  of  the  town  of  Pelham  and 
we  will  not  follow  them  further.  Have  copied  that  part  of  their  record 
which  speaks  of  New  Pelham.  This  is  the  tract  of  land,  being  a 
part  of  Belchertown  that  was  allowed  to  become  a  part  of  Pelham  on 
petition  of  the  inhabitants  living  thereon  in  the  year  1786.  and  which 
juts  out  south  from  the  south  line  of  the  town,  which  was  a  straight 
east  and  west  line  up  to  that  time. 

Henry  Kingman  was  the  surveyor  in  charge  of  the  peramble  and 
Levi  Crawford  was  his  assistant.  The  date  of  this  record  is  Nov. 
14,  1817. 

The  people  living  in  the  East  parish  had  not  outgrown  their  ambi- 
tion to  set  up  for  themselves  as  a  separate  town.  In  another  warrant 
from  the  one  calling  upon  the  people  to  elect  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court  was  the  following  article  calling  for  action  this  same  3'' 
of  May  18 1 9. 

"  2'*  To  see  what  the  Town  will  do  on  the  the  order  of  notice  from  the 
General  Court  to  show  Cause,  if  any  they  have  why  the  prayer  of  the  peti- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  the  East  parish  to  be  set  off  with  the  south  part  of 
New  Salem  as  a  separate  Town  shall  not  be  granted  and  act  and  do  any- 
thing touching  the  same,  as  the  Town  may  think  proper." 

'•Voted  Not  to  set  off  the  East  Parish  as  a  Seperate  town. 
A^oted   Capt  Henry  Kingman,   Jesse  F.  Peck  and  John  Rankin  jr  a 
Committee  to  instruct  the  Representative  respecting  the  East  Parish 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  185 

getting  off  as  a  Seperate  town. — said  Committee  to  draw  up  a  remon- 
strance against  the  East  Parish  getting  off  as  a  seperate  town. 

Isaac  Abercrombie,  Moderator. 

Abia  Southworth,  Town  Clerk." 

Meeting,    June  7,   18 19. 

The  irritation  rendering  this  town  meeting  necessary  arose  from 
the  action  of  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Turnpike  Corporation  as 
expressed  in  the  one  business  article  of  the  warrant: 

'•  To  see  if  the  town  will  take  Measures  to  Oppose  the  petition  of  the 
Sixth  Massachusetts  Turnpike  which  is  gone  forward  to  the  legislature  for 
throwing  back  upon  the  Town  of  Pelliani  said  Turnpike  road  through  said 
Town,  and  to  act  or  do  anything  respecting  the  same  that  said  Town  shall 
think  proper." 

"Voted  that  the  Selectmen  of  Pelham  write  to  our  Representative 
at  the  General  Court  to  oppose  an  order  of  notice  which  we  expect 
from  the  General  Court  through  the  instigation  of  the  proprietors  of 
the  Sixth  Turnpike  Corporation." 

The  Turnpike  Company  had  aroused  the  displeasure  of  the  people 
long  before  by  continuing  to  exact  toll,  and  now  proposed  to  throw 
the  road  back  upon  the  town,  which  was  accomplished. 

Some  concessions  had  probably  been  made  to  the  people  in  the 
way  of  exemption  from  toll  when  on  certain  necessary  business  trips,, 
and  one  of  these  is  said  to  have  been  exemption  from  toll  when  going 
and  returning  from  the  grist  mill.  One  toll  gate  was  some  distance 
west  of  the  old  meeting  house,  and  one  day  the  keeper  refused  to 
allow  a  boy  to  pass  with  a  load  of  grain  without  toll,  and  having  no 
money  the  boy  was  turned  back.  The  night  following  this  outrage, 
the  gate  disappeared,  and  in  the  morning  the  toll  gatherer  found  the 
following  poetical  notice  posted  near  where  the  gate  had  been  : 
"  The  man  who  stopped  the  boy  while  going  to  mill, 
Will  find  his  gate  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill." 

The  notice  proved  to  be  truthful, — as  the  toll  man  found  his  gate 
a  mile  or  more  down  the  hill  toward  Amherst. 

Meeting,  Aug.  21,   1820. 

The  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  short : 

"  Is  it  expedient  that  Delegates  should  be  chosen  to  meet  in  Convention 
for  the  purpose  of  revising  or  altering  the  Constitution  of  Government  of 
this  Commonwealth." 


1 86  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  action  of  the  town  was  decidedly  against  revision  or  change, 
the  vote  standing  as  follows:  For  revision  23,  against  it  52. 

There  was  a  sudden  change  of  sentiment  among  the  people  on  the 
subject  of  revision  or  change  in  the  Constitution,  for  in  the  face  of  the 
pronounced  opposition  expressed  in  the  vote  given  above,  the  voters 
were  called  together  on  the  third  Monday  of  October  following  to 
choose  a  delegate  to  a  constitutional  convention. 

Meeting,    Oct.   16,   1S20. 

The  warrant  called  the  voters  together  to  elect  one  delegate  to 
meet  delegates  from  other  towns  in  convention  in  Boston  on  the 
third  day  of  November  next,  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  constitu- 
tion of  government  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Action  of  meeting:  "  Did  then  and  there  elect  Rev.  Winthrop 
Bailey  to  be  their  delegate  for  the  purpose  aforesaid." 

Annual  Meeting,  April  2,   182 1. 

The  last  gasp  of  opposition  to  the  East  parish  getting  set  off  and 
incorporated  as  a  town  is  shown  in  the  two  closing  votes  of  this 
annual  meeting  : 

"  Voted  to  Instruct  the  Representative  to  oppose  the  East  Parish 
getting  off  as  a  town. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  remonstrate  against  their  getting  off  as  a 
town." 

The  population  of  Pelham  by  the  census  of  1820  was  probably 
larger  than  at  any  other  time  in  its  history.  And  that  portion  of  the 
town  east  of  the  west  branch  of  Swift  river  being  set  off  in  1822  the 
old  town  never  increased  in  population  sufficiently  after  that  to  come 
up  to  the  numbers  before  the  division. 

According  to  the  census  of  1820  there  was  a  population  of  1278  in 
Pelham.  Amherst  has  1917,  Ware  but  11 54,  Northampton  2854, 
Hadley  1461. 

Rejection  of  the  Fourteen  Amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
Monday,  April  9,   1S21. 

Tinkering  the  constitution  was  not  in  favor  with  the  voters  of 
PeUiam  as  shown  by  the  reception  the  fourteen  amendments  received 
at  their  hands  when  called  upon  to  vote  upon  them,  every  one  of 
them  being  rejected. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 87 

There  were  no  more  town  meetings  in  the  town  until  March  1822. 
The  East  parish  had  succeed  in  getting  set  off,  and  with  a  shoe  off 
from  the  south  end  of  New  Salem  had  been  incorporated  as  the  town 
of  Prescott,  Jan.  28,  1822.  Consequently  the  familiar  forms  and 
faces  of  the  voters  residing  east  of  the  west  branch,  who  had  been 
coming  to  the  West  parish  meeting  house  all  their  lives  to  attend 
town  meetings,  were  seen  no  more.  The  records  up  to  this  time 
since  1738  cover  the  whole  town,  but  from  this  date  forward  are 
separate  and  distinct.  The  number  of  voters  will  be  less,  the 
appropriations  less,  the  number  of  officers  less,  and  possibly  the  num- 
ber of  the  poor  fewer. 

Meeting,     April    i,    1822. 

"  Voted  Lemuel  Hall,  Henry  Kingman  Esq  and  John  Harkness  a 
Committee  to  settle    the  demands  against  Pelham  and  Prescott. 

Voted  To  Give  the  Town  of  Prescott  the  offer  of  supporting  what 
that  has  gained  a  settlement  within  their  Limmits,  if  not  the  town 
of  Pelham  will  Support  all  the  Poor  and  the  town  of  Prescott  pay 
their  proportion  for  their  support." 

Meeting  Adjourned  to  May   i,   1822. 

At  this  adjourned  meeting  the  business  transacted  was  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  poor  of  the  town  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  system  was 
an  objectionable  one,  but  at  the  time  this  record  was  opened  upon 
the  town  books  it  was  the  system  adopted  and  practiced  by  many 
towns.  Within  thirty  years  all  of  the  burden  of  the  poor  had  come 
upon  the  town, — the  pressure  was  great  and  the  system  adopted  was 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  burden  as  light  as  possible  and  not 
from  any  inhumanity  or  animosity  felt  toward  the  unfortunate  poor. 
That  there  was  so  many  relying  upon  the  town  for  support  in  1822 
is  something  remarkable,  and  it  is  not  easy  to  understand  how  there 
should  be  such  an  increase  when  in  1790  there  was  practically  no 
paupers  in  town.  We  give  the  full  record  of  the  disposition  of  the 
poor  for  the  year  1822.  It  will  serve  to  fully  illustrate  the  system, 
so  that  not  so  much  space  will  need  be  devoted  to  this  phase  of  town 
management  hereafter. 

May  I,  1822,  Then  met  according  to  adjournment.  "Voted  to 
set  up  the  Poor  of  Said  town  by  families. 

Voted  That  the  Persons  that  bids  off  the  poor  shall  Victual,  doc- 


l88  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

tor,  nurse  and  clothe  them,  and  return  them  with  as  good  Clothing 
as  when  Received. 

Voted  that  the  sale  of  paupers  of  the  town  shall  be  confined  to  the 
town  (i.  e.  no  man  from  out  of  town  would  be  allowed  to  bid.)" 

There  were  close  upon  twenty-five  persons  supported  by  the  town 
in  1 82 2. 

At  the  time  the  East  parish  was  organized  in  1786  it  became 
necessary  to  organize  the  West  part  as  a  parish  and  to  conduct  its 
affairs  as  a  separate  organization,  but  now  that  the  West  parish 
comprised  substantially  the  whole  town  the  subject  of  returning  to 
the  town  system  of  management  of  church  affairs  came  up  for  con- 
sideration, and  a  parish  meeting  was  called. 

Parish   Meeting,  April  8,   1822. 
'■  Voted  to  transfer  all  the  parish  papers  into  the  hands  of  the 
town  officers  and  do  no  more  business  as  a  Parish. 

Voted  to  Constitute  the  Parish  Committee  to  settle  all  demands 
against  said  Parish  and  then  transfer  all  papers  to  the  town  officers. 
Isaac  Aeercrombie,  Esq.,  Moderator." 

Town    Meeting,    May   i,    1822. 

''  Voted  to  raise  $300  for  Rev.  Winthrop  Baileys  Salary  for  the 
year  Ensuing  and  Voted  to  raise  $25  for  Contingencies." 

Under  this  action  the  parish  was  abolished  and  the  affairs  of 
raising  money  for  support  of  the  Gospel  and  contingent  expenses 
restored  to  the  control  of  the  town  as  of  old. 

Meeting,  June   17,    1822. 

The  article  under  which  this  meeting  was  called  was  as  follows  : 
"  To  see  if  the  town  will  Condescend  to  let  the  Rev  Mr  Bailey  preach  in 

any  other  town  or  Towns  such  part  of  the  time  for  the  year  ensuing  as  shall 

be  agreed  upon  when  Convened." 

Recorded  action  upon  above  article  :  "Voted  that  Rev  W  Bailey 

Preach  in  the  town  of  Prescott  or  some  other   town  one   fourth  part 

of  the  time  for  one  year  from  this  date. 

Isaac  Abercroimbie,  Moderator." 

Meeting,  March  3,    1823. 
"  Voted  to  Choose  a  Committee  to  settle  with  the  town  of  Prescott 
concerning  the  Paupers  and  divide  said  Paupers  with  said  Prescott, 
and  our  Selectmen  be  the  Committee. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 89 

Voted  To  adjourn  this  meeting  till  the  first  Monday  of  April  at 
two  oclock  P  M.  Then  met  and  voted  to  take  off  two  hours  of  the 
adjournment  and  went    on  to  do  the  business  at  12  oclock  at  noon. 

Voted  to  Give  Martin  Kingman  leave  to  occupy  eight  rods  of  the 
town  lands  for  a  house. 

Voted  to  choose  three  of  a  Committee  to  consult  with  the  Town  of 
Prescott  concerning  our  Ecclesiastical  affairs — and  Isaac  Abercrom- 
bie  Esq,  Dr  Abia  Southworth  and  Henry  Kingman  Esq  be  said 
Committee.  Adjourned  to  May  5. — Met  according  to  adjournment 
and  Voted  that  the  town  keep  a  stock  of  Powder  and  Ball  on  hand, 
and  the  Soldiers  may  not  Furnish  themselves  with  powder  and  ball  at 
our  trainings  in  said  town." 

Meeting,   May    28,   1823. 

The  town  was  called  together  to  act  upon  the  following  article  : 
'•  To  see  if  the  town  will  assume  the  debt  of  arearages  due  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  proprieters  of  the  Meeting  house  for  repairing  the  same  on 
Conditions  the  town  will  vote  to  sell  the  Town  and  Common  lands  in  said 
Town  for  that  purpose,  and  also  on  conditions  and  in  Consideration  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Meeting  house  yealding  up  and  giving  said  town  the  right 
and  privilege  of  holding  Town  Meedngs  in  the  same  so  long  as  said  Pro- 
prietors shall  Continue  the  same  for  a  Meeting  house." 

The  above  warrant  is  in  pursuance  of  and  agreeable  to  the  petition 
of  John  Taylor  and  others. 

"  Voted  to  sell  the  town  lands  and  the  proceeds  applied  to  pay  for 
repairs  on  the  Meeting  house  on  condition  the  town  be  allowed  to. 
hold  town  meetings  in  the  Meeting  house." 


14 


IQO  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

From    1824   to    1861. 


Couficil  Called  io  Dismiss  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  in  182^. —  Great 
Flood  of  1828  Does  Damage. — Zilm  Cook  Elected  Repj-eseii- 
tativc  by  One  Majority  in  i82g. — Stove  Used  in  Meeting  House 
for  the  First  Time  in  183 1. — New  Touni  Hall  Wanted  in  1833. 
— Money  Secured  froin  the  United  States  Treasury  in  1837. — 
Wanted  to  Change  the  Auime  of  the  Tncn  in  1840. — Libraries 
Established  in  1842. — Scheme  for  Tivo  Town  Halls  in  1842. — 
Old  Aleeting  House  Changed  for  Town  Hall  in  1844. — Old 
Meeting  House  Rented  in  1846. — Mafiy  Candidates  for  Repre- 
sentative in  1830-31. —  Voted  to  Surrender  the  Charter  in 
1834-36. — Enrolled  Men  in  1861. 


In  1824  school  houses  were  needed  in  the  southeast  and  in  the 
northwest  school  districts,  and  the  assessors  made  out  lists  of  non- 
resident property  within  these  districts  and  assigned  the  lists  to  these 
■districts.  The  northwest  district  had  1000  acres  of  non-resident 
land  valued  at  $8000  to  $10,000  for  taxation  to  build  school  houses. 

Meeting,    Sept.  5.    1825. 

This  meeting  was  of  more  importance  than  the  one  just  recorded. 
Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  was  settled  over  the  people  of  Pelham  in  181 5 
and  had  been  a  faithful  pastor  for  ten  years  but  for  some  cause  that 
does  not  appear  in  the  record,  his  w-ork  among  them  was  about  to 
close,  and  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  to  bring  the  matter  before 
the  people. 

"  Voted  to  choose  three  of  a  Committee  to  unite  with  Rev  \\' 
Bailey  in  Calling  the  aforesaid  Council.  Made  Choice  of  Henry 
Kingman  Esq,  Isaac  Abercrombie  Esq  and  Martin  Kingman  the 
above  Committee. 

Voted  To  raise  one  hundred  and  fifteen  Dollars  to  reward  the  Rev 
Winthrop  Bailey  for  services  rendered  to  said  town — up  to  his  dis- 
mission. 

Voted  that  the  above  Committee  receive  the  Money  Voted  to  said 
society  by  the  Evangellical  Missionary  Society  in  Boston  and  pay 
the  same  to  Mr  Bailey.  Henry  Kingman,  Moderator." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  I91 

Doubtless  the  council  was  called  and  the  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey 
was  formally  dismissed.  The  action  of  the  Council  was  probably 
duly  recorded  upon  the  church  books.  The  above  is  all  the  record 
of  action  by  the  town. 

MEETiNCi,    Aug.    i6,     1826. 

"  Article  To  see  if  the  town  will  agree  to  find  Pompons  and  feathers  for 
the  soldiers  in  lieu  of  the  Money  which  has  been  paid  in  by  the  Conditional 
exempts."" 

''  Voted  that  the  town  will  furnish  the  Money  to  purchase  l^om- 
pons  and  feathers  and  take  money  in  the  treasury  paid  in  by  the 
conditional  exempts  in  lieu  thereof. 

Voted  Capt  Cyrus  Kingman,  Lt  Alanson  Chapin,  Ensign  Lemuel 
C  Wedge  a  Committee  to  look  up  the  Money  paid  in  by  said  Condi- 
tional exempts. 

Voted  That  Said  Pompons  and  feathers  when  not  in  use  shall  be 
lodged  with  the  clerk  of  the  Company." 

Adam  Johnson,  a  liberal  donor  to  Amherst  College  of  funds  to 
erect  the  Johnson  chapel,  had  recently  deceased  and  there  was  an 
unsettled  claim  of  his  estate  against  the  town,  and  the  town  had  a 
claim  for  taxes  against  the  estate  of  Johnson.  Oliver  Smith,  Jr.,  Ezra 
Brown  and  Reuben  Westcott  were  chosen  a  committee  to  examine  John- 
son's claim  against  the  town  and  the  claim  for  taxes  against  theestate. 
They  were  to  report  at  the  annual  meeting  in  March  or  April  and  at 
a  meeting  Nov.  27,  1S26,  it  was  '•  Voted  to  raise  Four  Hundred  Dol- 
lars to  pay  a  Claim  of  the  Administrator  on  Adam  Johnsons  Estate 
against  said  town." 

The  desire  to  prosecute  Martin  Kingman  as  expressed  by  vote  in 
the  meeting  of  June  25,  1827,  was  subject  for  another  town  meeting 
on  the  19'''  of  November  following,  when  the  matter  of  choosing  an 
agent  to  prosecute  to  final  judgment  came  up.  Isaac  Abercrombie, 
a  cool  headed  and  able  citizen  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  the  suit 
against  Martin  Kingman  was  disposed  of  effectually  by  vote  as 
recorded. 

"  Voted  Not  to  Choose  an  Agent  to  prosecute  and  Voted  to 
instruct  the  Committee  to  discharge  the  Action  now  pending  between 
the  town  and  Martin  Kingman,  and  they  (the  committee)  be 
discharged." 

The  year  1828  was  made  memorable  because  of  the  great  ffood  of 


192  HISTORY    OK    PKLHAM,     MASS. 

that  year  which  swept  away  bridges  and  caused  great  damage  to  the 
roads  and  necessitated  the  calling  of  a  special  meeting,  Sept.  23, 
r828,  to  raise  money  for  the  repair  of  the  highways  and  bridges. 

Henry  Kingman  was  moderator.  It  was  "  Voted  to  raise  $500 
for  the  repair  of  the  Highways  injured  by  the  late  freshet. 

Voted  to  raise  $200  in  addition  to  the  above.'' 

The  damage  to  the  town  highways  and  bridges  proved  to  be 
greater  than  estimated  for  at  a  meeting  held  Dec.  i,  1828,  it  was 
voted  to  raise  $300  in  addition  to  the  $7 00  voted  in  September. 

Meeiing,  May  4,  1S29. 

Was  for  the  choice  of  a  man  to  represent  the  town  in  the  General 
Court  to  be  convened  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  the  cur- 
rent month  of  May. 

There  were  three  candidates  in  the  held,  and  for  the  tirst  time  in 
years  the  vote  for  representative  was  recorded  by  the  town  clerk. 
The  vote  for  Ziba  Cook,  48,  for  Samuel  Clark,  Jr.,  39,  and  for  Cyrus 
Kingman,   Esq.,  8. 

Lawsuits,  1829. 

The  town  for  some  reason  was  involved  in  lawsuits  this  year. 
The  records  fail  to  explain  just  what  the  suits  were  for  and  we  are 
shut  up  to  the  bare  facts  as  stated. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  May.  1S29,  Cyrus  Kingman.  Esq.,  was  chosen 
agent  of  the  town  to  manage  a  suit  commenced  by  Sally  Smith 
against  David  Abercrombie. 

At  the  same  meeting  Cyrus  Kingman  was  chosen  an  assistant 
agent  to  help  Martin  Kingman  to  manage  the  suit  brought  against 
the  town  of  Pelham  by  Abner  Goodell. 

At  a  meeting  on  the  i6th  of  September  Cyrus  Kingman  was 
chosen  an  agent  to  defend  the  suit  brought  by  Ira  Abercrombie 
against  the  town. 

Meeting,   Sept.   2,  1830. 

This  meeting  was  unimportant  save  in  one  or  two  particulars.  It 
was  at  this  meeting  that  the  list  of  the  poor  people  was  increased  by 
the  addition  of  Mary  and  Rachel  Johnson.  It  was  voted  that  these 
two  worthy  but   poor  people  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  selectmen 

until  the  hrst  of  November. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 93 

Building  the  wall  in  front  of  the  center  graveyard  was  struck  off  to 
Nathaniel  \\'heeler.  The  turf  was  to  be  taken  ofi^  and  the  wall  laid 
three  and  a  half  feet  thick  at  the  bottom  and  four  and  one-half  feet 
high,  capped  with  flat  stones  on  the  top,  the  front  to  be  equal  to  Col. 
Cyrus  Kingman's  wall  west  of  said  wall.  Mr.  Wheeler  had  the  job 
of  building  a  gate  with  stone  posts  at  the  burying  ground.  Undoubt- 
edly the  same  stone  posts  that  stand  there  now.  Wheeler  was  paid 
one  dollar  per  rod  for  the  wall  and  $5  for  the  stone  posts  and  gate. 

Meeting,  April  4,   183 1. 

"  Voted  to  accept  of  a  proposal  made  by  David  Goddard  Jr  of 
Petersham  concerning  taking  and  keeping  the  Canada  Girls.  The 
proposals  is  as  follows  viz — He  is  to  take  them  at  Sixty-five  dollars 
per  year  from  and  after  the  Sixth  day  of  May  next  and  keep  them 
free  of  Expense  to  the  town  so  long  as  they  all  three  live.  Whenever 
one  shall  be  taken  away  by  Death  he  is  to  keep  the  others  until  the 
expiration  of  the  year  and  return  them  free  from  expense  to  the  town 
or  Make  a  new  bargain.  He  pays  all  funeral  as  well  as  other 
charges.      Receives  his   Money  for  keeping  them  at  Pelham."' 

The  Canada  or  Kennedy  girls  were  persons  supported  by  the 
town. 

Meeting,  Nov.  14,  1S31. 

"  Voted  (Under  General  article)  that  the  Subscribers  for  procuring 
a  stove  have  a  privilege  of  setting  it  up  in  the  Meeting  house  pro- 
viding they  obtain  it  and  support  it  throughout  at  their  o\yn  expense. 
Daniel  Tho.mpson,  Town  Clerk."' 

The  history  of  this  town  meeting  doubtless  marks  the  time  when 
the  introduction  of  a  stove  into  the  meeting  house,  that  since  1740 
the  good  people  of  Pelham  had  sat  in  on  Sundays  and  on  many  town 
meeting  clays  without  any  fire  save  a  few  coals  in  the  foot  stoves 
monopolized  by  the  women  on  Sundays.  On  town  meeting  days  in 
cold  weather  the  men  were  nimble  in  carrying  adjournments  for  con- 
sultation to  the  tavern  beside  the  great  open  fireplaces.  The  propo- 
sition to  set  up  a  stove  in  the  meeting  house  was  considered  in  the 
town  meeting  in  a  way  to  throw  all  the  responsibility  upon  the 
"subscribers."  They  were  granted  the  privilege  of  setting  it  up,  but 
the  voters  did  not  propose  to  have  the  town  made  responsible  for  its 
support. 


194  HISlOkY    OF    1>RLHAM.     MASS. 

The  election  of  representative   had  become  an  interesting   feature 
of  the  annual  election  and  in  1832  there  were  six  candidates  and  the 
votes  cast  for  each  candidate  we  lake  from  the  record  : 
Reuben  Westcott  i  Votes. 

John  Rankin  Esq  2        " 

Martin  Kingman  2        '' 

Cyrus  Kingman  5        " 

David  Conkey  29       " 

Lewis  Draper  60       " 

Lewis  Draper  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  21  votes. 

Attest  David  Thompson  Town  Clerk. 

Meetinc;,    March  4,    1833. 

"  Voted — that  whoever  takes  charge  of  the  Meeting  House  the 
ensuing  year  shall  take  charge  and  care  of  the  fire  at  all  necessary 
and  proper  times,  and  sweep  the  Meeting  House  Every  Month  in  the 
year  Meeting  or  no  Meeting. 

Voted  to  set  it  up  to  the  lowest  bidder.  Martin  Kingman  bid  2.75 
and  being  the  lowest  bidder  the  same  was  struck  off  to  him." 

There  were  twelve  town  meetings  in  1833  and  five  of  them  were 
called  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  vote  for  Register  of  Deeds.  The 
dates  of  these  meetings  were  June  3,  1S33,  Aug.  29,  Nov.  it,  Nov. 
23,  Dec.  25.  Giles  C.  Kellogg,  Chauncy  Clark  and  William  Swan 
were  the  principle  candidates  and  the  meeting  of  Dec.  25,  resulted 
as  follows:  Giles  C.  Kellogg,  38  votes:  Chauncy  Clark,  26  votes. 
We  can  conceive  of  no  reason  for  so  many  trials  for  a  Register  of 
Deeds  save  a  failure  of  any  candidate  to  get  a  majority. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  2,   J835. 

"Voted  to  set  up  the  Care  of  the  Meeting  House  to  the  lowest  bid- 
der— To  sweep  said  house  when  necessary — Also  to  make  fires  when 
occupied,  and  lock  and  unlock  when  used — Struck  off  to  Jared  T. 
Westcott  at  $2.00  for  the  year. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  Prescott 
authorities  about  building  a  bridge  between  the  said  Towns  and 
report  at  April  meeting. — Report  was  to  build  a  bridge  wide  enough 
for  two  teams  to  pass  and  S250,  was  voted  to  build  it. 

Cyrus  Kingman,   Town  Clerk." 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


t95 


Warrant  for  Business  Meeting,  Nov.  9,   1835. 


2d  ■•  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  build  a  town  house  for  the  accommo- 
tion  of  transacting  town  business. 

3d  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  Accept  of  a  Piece  of  land  lying  in  the 
fork  of  roads  above  Learned  O.  Draper's  for  the  Center  of  said  Town  and 
for  the  location  of  said  House. 

4th  To  Choose  a  Committee  to  Superintend  the  building  of  said  house 
and  secure  a  title  of  said  land  in  behalf  of  said  Corporation. 

5th  To  see  if  the  town  will  accept  of  the  town  house  in  Shutesbury  as  a 
pattern  for  said  house. 

6th  To  see  if  the  town  will  Job  out  the  building  of  said  house  to  the 
lowest  bidder  therefor.  With  sufficient  bonds,  and  make  note  of  them 
accordingly,  to  be  completed  by  first  of  Nov.  1S36.  and  to  the  acceptance  of 
superintending  committee.'' 

The  meeting  "Voted  not  to  build  a  Town  House.'"  They  tried 
again  in  1836  and  failed,  that  ended  the  matter. 

Annual  Meeting,  March  6,   1S37. 

The  choice  of  the  school  committee  was  effected  after  a  singular 
spasm  of  backing  and  filling. 

"  Voted  not  to  choose  a  school  Committee  for  Examining  School 
Teachers.     Voted  To  reconsider  the  above  vote. 

Voted  To  Choose  an  Examining  Committee  of  one  person  from 
each  school  district  that  may  serve  for  nothing. 

Voted  To  adjourn  choosing  an  Examining  Committee  till  the  first 
Monday  in  April  at  one  o'clock  p.  M. 

Voted  to  choose  a  .School  Committee  consisting  of  three  persons 
to  examine  School  teachers,  make  the  necessary  returns  and  go  no 
father." 

It  was  after  all  these  votes  in  the  order  given,  that  the  committee 
was  chosen. 

Meeting,  May  i,   1837. 

This  meeting  was  for  the  purpose  of  considering  and  determining 
whether  the  town  would  agree  to  receive  its  proportion  of  the  monies 
received  and  to  be  received  by  the  Treasurer  and  Receiver  General 
of  this  Commonwealth  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States  for  deposit  with  this  Commonwealth,  in  pursuance  of 
an  Act  of  Congress  to  regulate  the  deposit  of  the  public  money, 
approved  June  23,  1836. 


ig6  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

"  Voted.  That  this  town  agrees  to  receive  from  the  Treasurer  and 
Receiver  General  of  the  Commonwealth  its  proportion  of  the  Surplus 
Revenue  of  the  United  States,  on  deposit  and  will  comply  with  the 
terms  and  provisions  of  the  several  acts  passed  by  the  legislature  of 
said  Commonwealth  concerning  the  surplus  Revenue. 

Voted.  That  Martin  Kingman  is  hereby  authorized  to  sign  a 
certificate  of  deposit  for  the  sums  of  money  he  may  receive  from 
time  to  time  from  the  Treasurer  and  Receiver  General,  thereby  bind- 
ing the  town  in  its  corporate  capacity  for  the  repayment  to  said 
Treasurer  of  the  money  so  deposited,  and  any  and  every  part  thereof 
whenever  it  shall  be  required  by  said  Treasurer,  to  be  by  him 
refunded  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States. 

Voted  to  pay  the  town  debts  out  of  the  Surplus  Revenue,  and  that 
the  Selectmen  put  the  remainder  at  interest  in  sums  not  to  exceed 
one  hundred  dollars  each,  to  be  loaned  to  inhabitants  in  town,  if 
sufficient  applications  are  made,  if  not,  in  larger  sums  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  Selectmen,  they  taking  sufficient  security  for  the  same. 
Attest  RuFUS  Grout,  Town  Clerk. 

The  number  of  persons  supported  by  the  town  had  fallen  from 
perhaps  twenty-five  in  1822  to  five  in  1838,  and  they  partially  self-sup- 
porting. This  decrease  was  only  temporary,  and  the  number 
increased  again  within  a  few  years. 

Annual  Meeting,   March  2,    1840. 

There  were  some  people  in  town  who  believed  that  Lord  Pelham 
had  been  honored  sutficiently  in  the  nearly  one  hundred  years  that 
the  town  had  borne  his  name  and  were  anxious  to  change  the  name 
Pelham  to  something  else  more  fitting  to  the  elevated  location, 
and  we  find  the  following  vote  on  the  records  as  passed  at  this  annual 
meeting:  "  Voted  to  petition  to  the  General  Court  to  change  the 
present  name  of  Pelham  to  Mt.  Hermon.'' 

The  petition  was  not  followed  by  the  legislation  they  prayed  for 
and  Lord  Pelham  continued  to  be  honored  by  the  use  of  his  name 
the  same  as  for  the  almost  completed  century  since  the  incorporation 
of  the  town. 

Meeting,  April  4,    1842. 
"Voted  $105    for  the   common  school   libraries,  it  being  the    sum 
required  of  said  town  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  District  School 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  1 97 

Libraries  to  enables  the  town  to  receive  the  same  sum  from  the  state, 
agreeable  to  a  law  passed  by  the  legislature  of   184 1. 

Voted  George  B.  Pitman,  Calvin  ]).  Eaton,  Ziba  Cook,  a  commit- 
tee to  examine  the  records  to  see  whether  the  Old  Meeting  House 
belongs  to  the  town,  or  whether  it  has  any  interest  in  the  same. 
Committee  to  make  report  at  the  next  town  meeting." 

Meetinc},   JaxV.    I,    1844. 

The  main  business  of-  this  New  Years'  day  meeting  was  to  act 
upon  the  following  article  of  the  warrant : 

Article  4.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  sell  tlie  Old  Meeting  House, 
and  if  they  so  vote  to  see  on  what  terms  and  conditions  the  Vestries  of  the 
Congregational  and  Methodist  Churches  in  said  town  can  be  had  and  appro- 
priated for  the  purpose  of  holding  town  meetings  in  them  alternate!}'  and  to 
take  such  measures  for  carrying  the  same  into  effect  as  shall  be  thought 
proper  when  convened.  Agreeable  to  the  petition  of  John  Parmenter  and 
others. 

The  meeting  was  organized  with  George  P.  Pitman  as  moderator, 
and  when  the  fourth  article  was  readied  the  only  record  of  action  is 
in  the  following  words  :  "  Voted  to  pass  the  4th  Article  of  the  War- 
rant.'" Thus  ended  another  attempt  to  change  the  place  of  holding- 
town  meetings  from  the  Old  Meeting  House  where  they  had  been 
held  for  one  hundred  years. 

Meeting,  April   7,    1845. 

"  \"oted  to  lay  a  door  across  the  gallery  of  the  Old  Meeting  House 
and  move  the  stove  now  in  the  old  Meeting  house  above  and  repair  it 
suitable  for  a  town  house,  meaning  the  upper  part  of  the  old  Meet- 
ing house. 

Voted  to  let  out  the  repairing  of  the  upper  part  of  the  old  Meet- 
ing house  to  the  lowest  bidder  ;  to  be  repaired  as  follows  :  Viz,  To 
lay  a  door,  between  the  galleries,  timbers  shored  up  well  on  the 
underside,  Glass  put  in  the  windows  in  the  galleries  and  Chimney  to 
be  made  from  the  top  of  the  upper  floor  to  the  top  of  the  roof. 
Struck  off  to  C.  D.  Eaton  to  repair  for  the  sum  of  S50,  to  be  done 
first  of  Nov.  1845. 

Voted  that  any  person  or  persons  who  may  choose  may  have  the 
privilige  to  move  the  Old  Meeting  house  back  the  bigness  of  the 
house,  and  thirty  feet  more,  if  any  person  or  persons  will  move  it  at 
their  own  expense. 


igS  HISl'ORY    OF    I'FJ.HAM,     MASS. 

Voted  to  finish  off  the  N.  E.  Corner  of  the  Old  Meeting  house,  for 
a  hearse  house  by  a  partition  up  to  the  under  side  of  the  gallerys 
jointed  and  matched  16  feet  by  12  feet — make  suitable  doors  and 
hang  them  and  wharf  up  so  that  it  will  be  convenient  to  draw  a  hearse 
in  and  out   of  the  door,  and  put  a  lock  and  key  on  the  door. 

Meetinc;,  April  6,   1846. 

"  Voted  to  accept  of  .\sa  Tomsons  proposals  for  the  rent  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  town  house  which  is  as  follows.  I  Asa  Tomson  of 
Pelham  agree  to  pay  the  town  of  Pelham  six  dollars  a  year  for  the 
rent  of  the  lower  part  of  the  (Jld  Meeting  House  in  Pelham  for  a 
term  of  fifty  years  to  myself  and  heirs  and  assigns  provided  I  can 
have  a  privilige  of  making  any  repairs  I  shall  think  proper  for  con- 
verting the  same  into  work  shops  or  for  any  other  purpose  I  shall 
think  fit  to  appropriate  the  same.  1  am  to  have  the  privilige  of 
Erecting  a  Chimney  through  the  town  hall  area  the  same  to  intersect 
with  a  Chimney  in  the  upper  part  of  said  house,  the  above  rent  to  be 
paid  annually  so  long  as  the  town  keeps  the  upper  part  in  repair ; 
and  1  am  to  have  all  the  boards  and  lumber  in  the  lower  part  of  said 
house,  and  to  have  the  privilige  of  taking  off  all  tenantable  repairs 
at  the  end  of  said  term. 

Pelham,  April  6,  1S46." 

One  cause  of  trouble  among  the  people  was  the  dissatisfaction 
with  either  the  school  districts  or  the  highway  districts,  and  some- 
times there  was  dissatisfaction  with  both  at  the  same  time.  Propo- 
sals for  a  change  in  highway  districts  or  school  districts  appeared  in 
the  warrants  for  town  meetings  quite  often  and  the  year  1846  was 
notable  in  school  district  commotion. 

Meeting,  April  23.  1849. 

"  Voted  That  the  selectmen  cause  a  room  to  be  finished  off  in 
Southeast  part  of  the  town  hall  to  keep  the  Weights  Measures  and 
Balances  in,  and  the  town  books  and  papers." 

Meeting,   May   1,   1850. 

Moderator,  Chester  Gaskill.  *'  Voted,  Thomas  Buffum,  Monroe 
Eaton,  Olney  Cook  a  committee  to  redistrict  the  town."' 

This  committee  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them  and  the  record 
of  their  doings  is  spread  upon  the  pages  of  the  record  book,  and  goes 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  IQQ- 

to  show  tliat  there  was  at  all  times  a  prevailing  dissatisfaction  with 
the  school  districts,  and  a  constant  desire  for  change,  but  it  would 
make  monotonous  reading  if  printed  here. 

Meeting.  Nov.  25,   1850. 

There  had  been  one  trial  to  elect  a  representative  which  failed, 
and  this  meeting  was  to  give  another  chance.  There  were  six  good 
men  who  wanted  to  go.  The  voters  were  called  together  at  "  Ten 
of  the  Clock  in  the  forenoon."  The  result  of  the  voting  was  as  fol- 
lows for  six  candidates  : 

Nehemiah  W.  Aldrich  So  votes. 

Israel  H.  Taylor  47        " 

Rufus  Grout  10       " 

Chester  Gaskell  10 

Lyman  Jenks  3 

Alanson  Chapin  i        " 

The  total  sum  assessed  for  the  year  1850  as  per  assessor's  report 
was  as  follows  :  Town  grant  $1550.00,  overlayings  $44.01,  highway 
delinquences  $55.20,  total  $1649.21. 

Meeting,   Nov.  27,   1850. 

This  was  the  third  town  meeting  during  the  month  and  the  busi- 
ness that  called  the  voters  together  this  time  v^as  set  forth  in  article 
2  of  the  warrant. 

"Article  2.  To  see  if  the  town  will  set  off  to  Amherst  the  West  Part  of 
Pelham  agreeable  to  the  petition  of  John  Russell  and  others."' 

The  meeting  was  called  at  2-30  o'clock  of  the  short  November 
afternoon  and  Daniel  Purrington  was  elected  Moderator.  On  article 
2  the  recorded  action  was  decisive. 

"  Voted  Not  to  set  off  the  west  part  of  this  town  to  Amherst — the 
number  of  voters  for  setting  off  was  eight.  The  number  against  set- 
ting off  was  eighty-six." 

John  Russell  lived  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town,  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Hiram  Ballon,  and  the  same  farm  that  Samuel 
Hyde  tilled  a  century  or  so  ago.  He  was  six  miles  from  Pelham 
center  and  attended  church  at  Amherst.  He  was  not  satisfied  with 
the  vote  and  took  his  petition  to  the  Cxcneral  Court  the  next  year  but 
did  not  succeed  in  getting  set  off. 


200  hisi'orv  ol'   i'f.lham,   mass. 

Meeting,   Nov.    io,   1851. 

There  was  a  contest  for  the  office  of  representative  to  the  General 
Court  from  Pelham  this  year.  There  were  six  candidates  in  the 
field,  and  the  ballot  on  the  hrst  day  resulted  in  no  choice,  the  vote 
standing  as  follows : 

David  Abercrombie  72  votes. 

Rufus  Grout  59 

Thomas  Kuftum  21        " 

William  Newell  5        " 

Israel  H.  Taylor  i        " 

Harney  Wetherell  i        "  =159 

Adjourned  meeting,  10  a.  i\i.,  Nov.  ii,  185  i.  Result  of  the  \'oting 
for  representative  to  the  General  Court  at  Boston  for  the  ensuing 
year,  being  the  election  of  David  Abercrombie. 

A  similar  contest  occurred  in  1853  when  it  took  two  days.  The 
first  day  Thomas  BufFum  received  55  votes;  all  others  55.  At  the 
next  trial  Mr.  Buffum  received  48  ;  all  others  42. 

Meetin(;,  Jan.  31,    1S54. 

This  was  a  very  important  meeting  and  the  warrant  follows  : 

'•  2''  To  see  if  said  Town  is  willing  to  give  up  and  surrender  her  town 
Charter  and  become  disfranchised  as  to  all  town  priviliges  and  rights. 

3''  To  act  on  the  subject  of  having  said  Town  divided  in  any  legal  way 
and  manner  and  having  the  parts  annexed  to  adjoining  town,  and  to  use  any 
legal  means  to  accomplish  the  same. 

4"'  To  Choose  all  Committee  or  Committees,  ofificer  or  officers  necessary 
or  desirable  to  carry  any  or  all  of  the  al)ove  into  effect  and  operation  and  to 
give  them  such  instructions  as  said  town  may  judge  expedient  when 
convened."" 

Action  of  the  meeting: — ■•r'  Made  choice  of  David  Abercrombie, 
Moderator.  Voted  to  surrender  this  town's  Charter  according  to  the 
"Warrant  calling  this  meeting.  Seventy  three  in  favor  (73^  Thirty 
six  (36)  against. 

"Voted  to  Choose  a  Committee  of  three  to  Carry  the  same  into 
effect — Minor  Gold,  Isaac  B.  Barrows,  Grove  W.  Hannum  chosen 
committee." 

Special  committees  were  also  chosen  to  visit  the  adjoining  town  to 
forward  the  project  in  hand,  and  the  above  committee  were  instructed 
to  take  charge  of  that  petition  in  the  Legislature  at  Boston. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  20r 

'J'he  cause  of  the  action  of  the  town  in  voting  to  surrender  the 
charter  cannot  be  explained  to  the  satisfaction  of  all ;  but  the  action 
of  the  people  of  the  western  portion  of  the  town  in  seeking  to  have 
the  legislature  set  off  a  good  generous  portion  of  the  town  to  Amherst, 
and  their  persistence  in  this  purpose  led  to  a  growing  feeling  that 
if  the  best  portion  of  the  town  was  ultimately  set  off,  it  would  be  bet- 
ter to  go  in  at  once  to  surrender  the  charter,  give  up  the  organization, 
and  have  the  territory  all  divided  up  and  annexed  to  the  surrounding 
towns.  It  was  while  the  people  were  thinking  that  there  was  a  prob- 
ability of  a  tract,  a  mile  and  a  half  or  more  wide,  extending  across 
the  western  end  of  the  town,  being  annexed  to  Amherst  by  the  per- 
sistent efforts  of  the  people  residing  therein,  that  they  suddenly  gave 
in  and  endorsed  the  annihilation  project  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of 
those  present  and  voting  thereon. 

The  action  of  the  people  of  Pelham  became  known  to  the  people 
of  Amherst  and  was  not  pleasing  to  them.  A  town  meeting  was 
called  at  Amherst  on  the  27'''  of  February,  1854,  and  an  expression 
of  the  majority  of  the  voters  was  obtained  by  a  yea  and  nay  vote  on 
the  following  resolution  offered  by  Hon.  Edward  Dickinson  : 

"  Resolved — as  the  sense  of  this  town  of  Amherst,  that  as  at 
present  advised  and  in  the  present  state  of  proceedings  before  the 
Legislature,  on  petition  of  the  town  of  Pelham  for  leave  to  surrender 
its  charter,  and  to  be  annexed  to  the  adjoining  towns,  we  are  opposed 
to  the  surrender  of  its  charter  and  to  the  annexation  of  any  portion 
of  its  territory  to  the  town  of  Amherst."  On  motion  of  Horace  Kel- 
logg the  yeas  and  nays  were  ordered  on  the  above  resolution.  Each 
voter's  name  was  then  called  and  252  voters  answered  to  their  names 
as  follows:   In  support  of  the  resolution,  168  ;  against  it,  84. 

It  had  been  generally  understood  that  Amherst  would  be  pleased 
to  accept  of  a  strip  of  territory  a  mile  or  more  wide  across  the  west 
end  of  the  town  of  Pelham,  but  the  probability  that  Amherst  would 
be  asked  to  receive  more  than  that  if  the  charter  was  surrendered, 
caused  the  decision  not  to  accept  of  any  portion  of  it. 

The  action  of  Amherst  as  recorded  caused  a  change  of  feeling 
among  the  people  of  Pelham  as  will  be  seen  in  the  action  of  the 
March  meeting. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  March  6,  1854,  there  was  a  motion  made 
to  rescind  the  vote  passed  Jan.  31,  to  "  Surrender  the  Charter"  and 
it  failed  to  pass,  84  voting  for  reconsideration  and  87  against. 


202  HISTORY    OF    PKLHA.M,     MASS. 

Instead  of  a  two-thirds  vote  in  favor  of  surrendering  the  charter,  in 
a  total  of  109  votes  at  the  first  meeting,  there  was  only  the  small 
majority  of  three  against  rescinding  in  a  total  of  171  votes,  which  was 
as  full  a  vote  as  was  possible  to  call  out,  for  the  excitement  on  the 
question  was  great  and  both  sides  were  out  in  full  force.  'J'he  senti- 
ment against  the  surrender  of  the  charter  and  annihilation  had  set 
in,  and  the  success  of  the  project  was  doomed  although  not  entirely 
abandoned.  Nothing  seems  to  have  been  done  about  it  during  the 
year  1855  but  the  agitation  was  renewed  in  1856. 

Meeting,  March  6,   1855. 

John  Russell  and  others  were  still  pushing  to  be  set  oft"  to 
Amherst  and  a  petition  from  these  parties  was  read  asking  the 
legislature  to  set  them  oft'  to  Amherst.  It  was  then  "  Voted  to 
instruct  the  selectmen  to  call  a  town  meeting  to  choose  an  agent  or 
agents  to  appear  at  Boston  to  object  to  the  petition  of  John  Russell, 
Sylvester  Jewett  and  others  being  granted."  This  meeting  was  held 
on  the  1 6th  of  March,  1855,  ^'""^^  Calvin  1).  Eaton  was  chosen  agent 
to  go  to  Boston  to  oppose  the  aforesaid  petition.  Eaton  was 
empowered  to  take  one  or  more  witnesses  with  him. 

Meetixo,  Jan.  28,  1S56. 

This  meeting  was  called  for  substantially,  the  same  purpose  as 
that  of  Jan.  31,  1854,  viz..  to  consider  the  question  of  surrendering 
the  charter  of  incorporation  of  the  town. 

"  Voted  to  have  the  petition  presented  to  the  meeting  and  read  for 
the  information  of  the  voters. — Miner  Gold  Esq  read  the  Petition." 

A  motion  was  made  to  pass  over  the  petition  or  article  under 
which  it  had  come  before  the  meeting. 

A  division  of  the  house  was  demanded  on  this  motion  and  the 
petitioners  and  all  in  favor  of  the  surrender  of  the  charter  swayed  to 
one  side  of  the  town  hall  while  those  who  opposed  were  arrayed  on 
the  other.  The  change  in  sentiment  since  the  meeting  of  Jan.  31, 
1854,  was  manifested  when  only  sixteen  could  be  counted  for  surren- 
der, to  seventy-three  against. 

"  Voted  not  to  surrender  the  charter." 

A  motion  was  made  to  set  off  John  Russell  and  Sylvester  Jewett  to 
Amherst.     "  Voted  not  to  set  off  John  Russell  and  Sylvester  Jewett." 

This  is  believed  to  be  the  last  movement  to  surrender  the  charter, 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  203 

or  to  set  off  any  portion  of  the  town  to  Amherst  or  to  other  towns 
adjoining,  until  1S67  when  it  was  tried  again  and  failed.  This  cause 
of  disagreement  and  contention  removed,  the  people  were  more  con- 
tented with  their  surroundings,  although  they  had  seen  the  gradual 
decline  in  prosperity  experienced  by  all  hill  towus.  Very  few  of  those 
who  were  active  in  the  proposition  to  surrender  the  charter  are  alive 
now,  and  the  episode  is  almost  forgotten  now  that  forty  years  have 
passed  since  the  unusual  and  almost  unheard  of  action  of  voting  to 
surrender  the  charter  occurred. 

Annual  Meeting,   April  4,   1859. 

The  average  amount  of  the  annual  appropriations  for  the  years 
just  previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  and  the  distribu- 
tion thereof  can  be  studied  by  reference  to  the  appropriations  for 
1859  which  follow  : 

Voted  $550  for  schools,  $800  for  roads  and  bridges,  to  pay  12  cts. 
per  hour  for  labor  on  roads,  $500  for  support  of  the  poor,.  $300  town 
debts,  $400  for  contingent  expenses,  total  $2550. 

The  appropriation  for  schools  was  divided  proportionately  among 
the  eight  districts,  and  the  prudential  committee  of  the  several  dis- 
tricts employed  teachers,  purchased  fuel,  etc. 

Meeting,   May  24,   i860. 

This  meeting  was  called  for  a  very  singular  purpose — one  for 
which  the  voters  had  never  before  been  called  together.  Mr. 
Fay  of  Brookfield  had  driven  some  cattle  into  town  to  graze  dur- 
ing the  summer,  and  the  cattle  were  suspected  of  being  tainted  with 
pleuro-pneumonia  and  the  people  were  excited,  fearing  a  spread  of 
the  disease  among  the  herds  in  town.  James  M.  Cowan.  Calvin  D. 
Eaton,  Philander  Bartlett,  Dexter  Thompson  and  Thomas  Buffum 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  confer  with  committees  from  adjoining 
towns  in  reference  to  the  cattle  disease  and  $100  was  voted  for  use 
in  exterminating  the  pleuro-pneumonia.  The  infected  district  was 
east  of  the  highway  leading  from  the  center  to  Shutesbury  and  north 
of  the  main  highway  leading  from  the  center  to  Prescott.  All  per- 
sons were  forbidden  to  remove  any  cattle  from  that  district,  and  also 
charged  not  to  let  them  run  at  large,  or  to  drive  infected  or  exposed 
cattle  on  the  public  highways. 


204 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAiM,    MASS, 


The  first  recorded  evidence  of  the  existence  of  the  civil  war  was  in 
a  warrant  for  a  special  meeting,  Aug.  31,  1861,  as  follows: 

Article  6.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  raise  money  for  the  support  of 
the  families  of  Volunteers  who  have  gone  to  the  war  or  who  may  go,  and 
how  much. 

'■  Voted  to  pass  the  6th  article." 

Return  of  men  liable  to  military  duty  as  made  out  by  the  Asses- 
sors, Aug.  14,  1 86 1  : — 

Sylvester  Jewett 
John  Shaw 
William  Myrick 
Hiram  Tuttle 
Charles  O.  Parmenter 

C.  D.  Gray 
George  Tufts 
Henry  Barrows 
Elisha  Thornton 
A.  S.  Barton 
S.  F.  Arnold 
Henry  Wheeler 

D.  N.  Squares 
Stillman  Abercrombie 
Jolm  B.  Ward 
Nelson  Witt 
William  Avery 
Franklin  Bramble 
Tyler  D.  Aldrich 
Olney  Aldrich 
Martin  Aldrich 
Sanford  Boyden 
Henry  Conklin 
William  Comstock 
Henry  Cook 
Aaron  Cook 
Nathan  C.  Canterbury 
James  M.  Cowan 
Francis  Dodge 
Seth  Davis 
Frederick  R.  Dane 
James  Fales 
Russell  W.  Whipple 
Milo  W.  Field 


Asahel  Gates 
Marcus  C.  Grout 
Theodore  Gold 
Levi  W  Gold 
William  H  annum 
Lucian  Hill 
(Gilbert  G.  Hunt 
Elbridge  F.  Horr 
Russell  Hildreth 
Rufus  P.  King 
(jcorge  Knight 
Charles  Kimball 
Sanford  Lovett 
Francis  Latham 
O.  S.  Latham 
Levi  H.  Moulton 
John  F.  Moulton 
John  F.  Nichols 
Joseph  Park 
D.  F.  Packard 
William  F.  Reed 
John  Shay 
C.  H.  Taylor 
Philo  Thompson 
Lucian  Winslow 
Joseph  G.  Ward 
"David  H.  Allen 
Estus  Barnes 
Emerson  Bartlett 
Arctus  J.  Cadwell 
Lemuel  R.  Chapin 
Charles  R.  Cleveland 
Lewis  Dodge 
HoUis  Dodge 


•Samuel  B.  Dodge 
William  B.  Downing 
Myron  Buffum 
Gilbert  H.  Firman 
Elon  G.  Firman 
Albert  A.  Grout 
Otis  Griffin 
Ziza  Planks 
Warner  Hanks 
Joseph  Hunt 
Joshua  Nickerson 
John  N.  Pitman 
Stephen  Rhodes 
John  Root 

Marcenus  B.  Richardson 
Cyrenus  T.  Richardson 
Warren  Randall 
Alonzo  C.  Randall 
John  Rider 
(jeorge  Shaw 
E.  S.  Southwick 
Timothy  Twohig 
Richard  Twohig 
John  Willis 
Moses  L.  Ward 
George  Wilson 
Heman  D.  Eaton 
Myrett  E.  Boynton 
Harrison  Horr 
Theodore  F.  Cook 
George  D.  Davis 
Israel  Taylor 


Meeting,  November   i,   186 i. 

The  question  of  help  to  families  of  volunteers  came  up  under 
"Article  2.  To  see  if  the  tOM^n  will  vote  to  raise  money  for  the  sup- 
port of  families  of  Volunteers  as  provided  in  an  Act  passed  by  the 
last  Legislature  or  instruct  the  Selectmen  or  take  any  other  action  in 
relation  thereto  when  convened.'' 


,^^*  ^'.* 


■^^^^ite* 


TO   THE    CT[)ER    MILE. 


OX   THE    SANDY    ROAD    JO    AMHERST    ftEARKlCT. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


205 


''Voted  to  instruct  the  Selectmen   to  borrow  as  much  money  as  is 
necessary  to  pay  the  famihes  of  Volunteers  who  have  gone  to  War. 

Calvin  D.  Eaton,  Town  Clerk." 


From  1862  to  1892. 


Action  for  Relief  of  Soldiers^  Families,  1862.- — Draft  for  Men  in  i86j. 
— Heavy  Taxes  After  the  War. — Number  of  Schools  Reihiced 
from  Eight  to  Four  in  18^4. — Few  Town  Meetings  Annually 
After  That.— Blizzard  of  1888.— Death  of  Sylvester  fewett, 
i8g2. — History    of  the  Old  Meeting  House. 


Meeting,  July  21,   1862. 


This  meeting,  called  while  the  people  of  the  town  were  at  work  in 
the  hayfields,  shows  the  importance  of  the  business  they  were  called 
to  act  upon.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  was  raging  and  volunteers  had 
been  going  forth  to  fight  for  the  country  leaving  their  families  behind 
them  in  needy  circumstances,  and  the  town  was  called  together  to 
take  action  as  articles  in  the  warrant  prove. 

"  Article  Second,  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  empower  the  selectmen 
to  borrow  money  to  pay  the  families  of  Volunteers  now  gone  to  war  all 
sums  they  may  be  entitled,  also  the  families  of  those  volunteers  which  may 
go  hereafter. 

Article  Fifth,  To  see  what  sums  of  money  if  any  the  town  will  vote  to 
raise  to  pay  as  bounty  to  Volunteers. 

Article  Sixth,  To  see  what  means  the  town  will  take  to  raise  this  Bounty 
Money, — by  borrowing  it,  or  by  taxation  at  the  present  time." 

Acting  on  the  second  article  the  town  "  Voted  to  empower  the 
Selectmen  to  Borrow  Money  to  pay  the  families  of  Volunteers  that 
have  gone  to  the  war  or  who  may  go  hereafter, — a  sum  not  exceed- 
ing Seven  hundred  dollars." 

Acting  on  the  fifth  article  the  town  "  Voted  to  Authorize  the  Select- 
men to  borrow  One  Hundred  dollars  for  Each  Volunteer,  Not  exceed- 
ing ten  in  number,  who  may  enlist  under  the  Call  of  the  Governor  of 
Massachusetts  from  this  town,  and  that  the  same  be  assessed  in  the 
next  annual  assessment  of  taxes  in  the  town  of  Pelham. 
15 


206 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Voted  to  take  this  question  by  Yeas  and  Nays  and  the  vote  was  so 
taken,  and  the  following  voters  answered  Yes  to  their  names  and  No 
as  it  is  written  against  their  Names." 

The  importance  and  the  scope  of  this  vote,  and  what  it  might  lead 
to  as  a  precedent,  probably  led  to  the  decision  to  make  the  record 
by  a  yea  and  nay  roll  call.  There  was  a  little  opposition  to  such 
large  appropriations  for  the  people  of  the  toM'n  to  pay,  but  the  large 
majority  were  in  earnest  to  put  down  secession  and  willing  to  con- 
tribute liberally  for  bounties  and  for  the  help  of  families  of  volunteers. 
There  were  few  if  any  suspected  of  "  secesh  "  opinions,  and  the  fact 
that  some  men  answered  No,-  is  not  to  be  considered  as  exhibiting  a 
lack  of  patriotic  desire  to  crush  the  rebellion.  It  being  the  first 
record  of  a  yea  and  nay  vote  the  record  is  copied  in  full. 


"  Arnold,  Samuel  F 

Yes 

Hildreth,  Russell 

Yes 

Abercrombie,  George 

Yes 

Jewett,  Sylvester 

Yes 

Buffum,  Thomas 

No 

Jenks.  Lyman 

Yes 

Boyington,  Silas 

Yes 

Knight,  Philander 

Yes 

Barrows,  Henry 

No 

Kimball,  Samuel 

Yes 

Barnes,  Ansel 

No 

Lesure,  Jesse 

No 

Barnes,  Estus 

Yes 

Latham,  F.  A. 

Yes 

Boyden,  Sanford 

No 

Latham,  O.  S. 

No 

Bartlett,  Pliilander 

Yes 

Myrick.  William  L 

Yes 

Bent,  G.  R. 

Yes 

Nichols,  John 

Yes 

Chapin,  Lemuel  R 

Yes 

Newell,  Lemuel  H 

Yes 

Chapin,  Luther 

No 

Rankin,  Ansel  A 

Yes 

Clough,  Warren 

No 

Randall,  Arba 

Yes 

Cook,  Ziba 

Yes 

Presho,  Zadock 

Yes 

Cook,  Lewis 

Yes 

Packard.  David  F 

Yes 

Cook,  Olnev 

No 

Pitman,  John  N 

Yes 

Cowan,  J  M 

Yes 

Randall,  Alonzo 

Yes 

Dodge,  Lewis 

Yes 

Richardson,  Marcene 

No 

Dodge,  Hollis 

Yes 

Randall,  Warren 

Yes 

Downing,  Wm  B 

Yes 

Shaw,  George 

Yes 

Davis,  Samuel 

Yes 

Stone,  Eliab 

Yes 

Dowden,  Wm  H 

Yes 

Tutde,  Hiram 

Yes 

Eaton,  Calvin  D 

Yes 

Thurber,  William 

Yes 

Fales,  Abijah 

Yes 

Thompson,  Dexter 

Yes 

Firman,  Albert 

Yes 

Thompson,  Edmund 

Yes 

Field,  Milo 

No 

Thompson,  George 

Yes 

Gray,  Horace 

Yes 

Tufts,  George 

Yes 

Gray,  CD. 

Yes 

Whipple,  Russell  jr 

Yes 

Gates,  Asahel 

Yes 

Ward,  Moses  L 

No 

Grout,  Marcus  C 

Yes 

Ward,  Hosea 

No 

Gold,  Miner 

Yes 

Ward,  John 

Yes 

Gold,  Levi 

Yes 

Wilson,  George  H 

Yes 

Hills,  Lucian 

No 

Ward.  Joseph  G 

Yes 

Hunt,  Joseph 

Yes 

Ward,  John  B 

Yes 

Hamilton,  Joseph 

Yes 

Witt,  Nelson 

Yes 

Fifty  seven  voted  in 

the  Affirm? 

itive  and  Thirteen  in  the 

Negative. 

Calvin  D.   Eaton,  Town 

Clerk." 

TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  207 

Meeting,  Aug.  29,   1S62. 

This  was  another  meeting  called  in  the  busy  season  of  the  Pelham 
farmers,  but  there  had  been  a  call  for  300,000  men  by  President 
Lincoln  and  the  business  for  which  the  meeting  was  called  was  laid 
before  the  voters  in  this  article. 

"Article  2'',  To  see  what  Measures  or  Means  the  town  will  take  to  raise 
her  quota  or  proportion  of  the  300,000  men  last  Called  for  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States. 

Article  3'',  To  pass  all  votes  necessary  or  judged  Expedient  in  order  to 
Carry  out  the  aforesaid  Means  or  Measures  which  the  town  when  convened 
may  see  fit." 

Sylvester  Jewett  was  chosen  moderator  and  the  action  of  the  town 
is  shown  in  the  following  recorded  vote  : 

"  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  hereby  authorized  and  empowered 
to  procure  all  money  necessary  by  borrowing  it  for  the  town  or  draw- 
ing it  from  the  treasury  as  most  convenient,  and  pay  the  sum  of  One 
Hundred  dollars  to  Each  person  Entitled  thereto  when  Mustered  into 
Service." 

The  vote  on  the  above  article  was  taken  by  the  yeas  and  nays, 
69  voting  in  the  affirmative  and  three  in  the  negative. 

Meeting,  Oct.  20,   1862. 
The  article  that  was  the  main  feature  of  the  warrant  was  : 

"  To  See  if  the  town  will  vote  to  pay  the  One  Hundred  dollars  bounty  to 
the  five  Men  over  our  quota  of  nine  months  men  that  are  now  in  Camp  at 
Greenfield." 

The  response  was  prompt  and  to  the  point.  "  Voted  to  pay  the 
five  men  now  in  Camp  at  Greenfield,  over  and  above  our  quota,  One 
Hundred  dollars  Each.'' 

Meeting,  April  4,    1863. 

"  Voted  to  allow  the  selectmen  to  borrow  as  much  money  as  neces- 
sary to  pay  state  aid  to  families." 

Meeting,  April,   23,   1863. 

Moderator,  John  Jones.  "  Voted  to  Authorize  the  Selectmen  to 
borrow  a  sum  not  Exceeding  Eight  Hundred  dollars  to  pay  the  fami- 
lies of  Volunteers  and  give  town  obligations  for  the  same. 

Voted  To  Instruct  the  Selectmen    to    withhold  two    months  pay 


2o8  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

from  the  families  of  Volunteers  after  the  r'  of  August  next  instead  of 
one  Month  as  they  now  do." 

Meetinc;,  June  20,  1863. 

"  Voted  that  John  Jones  be  an  Agent  for  the  town  of  Pelham  to  go 
before  the  Commissioner  and  use  all  lawful  means  to  get  from  our 
Soldier  rolls  all  Soldiers  that  ought  to  be  exempt,  And  to  pay  all 
reasonable  expense  he  may  be  at."' 

The  frequent  calls  for  men    to  till  the  quota  of  many  towns  in  the 

state  was  greater  than  the  number  of  those  who  would  volunteer,  and 

the  authorities  were  obliged   to  issue   a  call  for  a  draft  in   July  1863, 

The  following  is  the  list  of  men  drafted  at  Greenfield.  July  20.  1863, 

from  Pelham. 

George  B.  Davis  .Solomon  .Slater 
Philo  Thompson  (jilbert  H.  Firman 
Nathaniel  H.  Cook  Theodore  F.  Cook 
Frederic  R.  Dane  Joel  Cutting- 
John  N.  Pitman  James  D.  Mower 
Albert  Pratt  John  S.  Willis 
Hollis  Dodge  William  Squares 
Heman  D.  Eaton  George  H.  Willson 
John  T.  Fales  Charles  H.  Jenks 
George  A.  Gardner  Levi  W.  Gold 
Calvin  D.  Gray 

Meeting,  June  i,  1864. 

This  meeting  was  called  at  3  o'clock  p.  m.  because  it  was  in  the 
busy  season  for  farmers,  and  the  important  business  for  which  the 
town  was  called  together  is  set  forth  in  Article  2  of  the  warrant  : 

'•Article  2  To  see  what  action  the  town  will  take  in  relation  to  procuring 
.Substitutes  for  the  Men  that  may  be  accepted  on  t'.ie  present  draft,  and 
all  future  drafts,  or  to  till  all  future  quotas  without  a  draft,  and  also  in  rela- 
tion to  Compensating  the  men  that  were  drafted  and  accepted  in  1S63  in  this 
town." 

"  Voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  five  dollars 
apiece  for  all  persons  who  may  volunteer  and  are  accepted  into  the 
United  States  Service. 

Voted  to  Authorize  the  Selectmen  to  borrow  and  pay  one  hundred 
and  twenty  five  dollars  each,  for  Seventeen  Volunteers  to  fill  the 
quota  of  the  town  of  Pelham  under  the  present,  and  future  Calls  for 
Men. 

Voted  that  John  Jones,  David  F.  Packard,  Cyrus  A.  Wade  and 
Moses  Redding  be  agents  to  procure  Substitutes  for  all  future  Calls 
for  men  from  this  town. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  209 

Voted  to  Authorize  the  Selectmen  to  furnish  the  above  agents  with 
money  sufficient  to  bear  their  expenses  in  recruiting." 

Sylvester  Jewett,  Moderator. 
C.  D.  Eaton,  Town  Clerk. 

"Meeting,   Aug.  i6,  1865." 

(This  meeting-  was  probably  held  in  1864.) 

The  record  of  this  meeting  is  incomplete  there  being  no  warrant 
spread  upon  the  book.  The  moderator  is  not  given,  nor  is  the 
fragmentary  record  signed  l)y  the  town  clerk.  All  of  the  record  is 
copied. 

"  At  a  legal  meeting  warned  by  the  Selectmen  and  assembled  in 
the  town  hall  August  i6,  1864  They  passed  the  following   votes,  viz. 

Voted  to  pay  $125.00  to  Every  man  who  shall  be  one  to  fill  the 
present  quota  of  Seven. 

Voted  that  John  Jones  be  an  agent  to  obtain  Men  from  any  quarter 
he  may  think  best  to  go,  and  to  pay  his  necessary  Expenses. 

Voted  to  accept  of  Moses  Redding's  account  as  settled  by  John 
Jones. 

Voted  to  dissolve  this  meeting." 

Meeting,  ^Vpril  3,   1865. 
"Voted  that  the  selectmen  be  authorized  to  borrow  and    appropri- 
ate the  amount  of  money  they  can  lawfall}^  for  recruiting  purposes." 

Meeting,   May  27,   1865. 

The  war  was  substantially  over  and  no  more  men  would  be  called 
for,  and  this  meeting  was  called  to  take  measures  to  equalize  the 
burdens  that  had  fallen  upon  individuals  as  outlined  in  the  main 
article  of  the  warrant : 

"  Article  2  To  see  if  the  town  will  appropriate  Money  to  reimburse 
money  contributed  to  furnish  recruits  according  to  an  act  approved  April  25 
1865  ^i''d  if  so  to  give  instructions  in  regard  to  raising  such  money." 

Moderator,  Sylvester  Jewett.  "  Voted  to  raise  four  thousand  dol- 
lars to  be  divided  pro  rata  among  those  who  have  paid  money  to  fill 
the  quotas  of  the  town  during  the  war. 

Voted  to  adjourn  this  Meeting  two  weeks  from  to-day  at  2  o'clock 
p.  M." 

Met  according  to  adjournment,  and  passed  the  following  vote 
|une  10,  1865. 


2IO  HIS'JORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

"  Voted  to  reconsider  the  vote  passed  May  27,  1865  to  raise  four 
thousand  dollars  to  be  divided  among  those  who  have  paid  Money 
to  fill  the  quotas  of  the  town  during  the  war." 

The  haste  with  which  this  liberal  proposition  was  reconsidered  is 
evidence  that  it  was  not  given  due  consideration  before  it  was  first 
passed.  The  war  was  over  now,  and  the  large  sums  the  town  had 
been  obliged  to  raise  by  borrowing  and  otherwise  had  made  the  rate 
of  taxation  high,  and  to  pay  interest  and  small  amounts  upon  the 
debt,  caused  by  the  war  expenses,  kept  the  rate  high  for  many  years. 
The  rate  of  taxation  rose  to  $25  or  more,  on  $1000  and  hovered 
near  $20  per  1000  for  a  long  time. 

The  amount  of  money  raised  by  taxation  increased  for  a  number 
of  years  after  the  war  closed.  The  total  amount  raised  by  taxation 
for  the  year  1865  was  $4270.79;  for  1866,  $4961.22;  for  1867, 
S5321.21;  for  1868,  $5557-81;  for  1869,  $4436.92;  for  1870,  S5429.38; 
for  1871,  $4874.98;  for  1872,  $5429.38. 

To  raise  these  sums  by  taxation  when  the  valuation  of  the  town 
was  shrinking  every  year,  and  the  population  growing  less  each 
year,  in  common  with  other  hill  towns,  caused  the  burden  of  taxation 
to  rest  hea\ily  upon  the  people  until  the  war  debt  was  lessened  by 
small  appropriations  yearly  to  apply  upon  the  principal,  thereby 
lessening  the  yearly  interest  charge  until  the  town  debt  is  now  nearly 
wiped  out. 

Schools  and  School  Districts. 

There  was  much  agitation  and  numerous  town  meetings  during  the 
year  1867  upon  the  question  of  schools  and  school  districts.  The 
first  of  these  was  held  Jan.  30.  There  was  a  proposition  to  abolish 
the  school  districts,  and  it  was  voted  to  abolish  them.  Then  they 
voted  to  set  up  four  schools.  Then  committees  were  chosen  to 
locate  the  school-houses.  There  was  no  unanimity  of  feeling,  conse- 
quently no  satisfactory  conclusions  were  reached,  and  the  meeting 
was  adjourned  to  Feb.  13  when  it  was  voted  to  have  three  schools. 
This  proposition  was  not  satisfactory  to  some  and  the  meeting  was 
adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in  April,  and  the  vote  to  have  three 
schools  was  reconsidered.  Then  it  was  voted  to  support  seven 
schools  and  to  have  them  in  the  school-houses  as  at  present  located. 
This  vote  was  not  carried  out  because  the  town  did  not  need  so 
many   schools,   but  the  people  did  not  seem  ready  to  do  what  the 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  2  I  I 

more  intelligent  knew  must  be  done  ultimately,  viz.:  A  reduction  in 
the  number  of  schools,  and  a  relocation  of  the  school-houses  ;  and 
meeting  after  meeting  was  held  until  the  work  was  finally  accom- 
plished and  the  eight  school  districts  abolished,  and  four  schools 
established. 

Special  Meeting,  Nov.   i6,    1867. 

For  ten  years  there  had  been  no  agitation  for  setting  off  any  por- 
tion of  the  town  to  an  adjoining  town,  or  for  surrendering  the 
charter,  but  the  leading  article  in  the  warrant  for  this  special  meeting 
was  to  bring  up  the  question  of  surrendering  the  charter  and  setting 
off  the  territory  covered  by  the  charter  to  the  adjoining  towns. 

Alfred  Taylor  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  special  meeting,  and 
there  were  nearly  one  hundred  voters  present  on  Saturday  the  i6th 
of  Nov.  The  meeting  being  called  at  thirty  minutes  past  twelve 
o'clock  of  the  short  November  afternoon. 

A  motion  was  made  to  pass  Article  two  and  the  motion  was  car- 
ried by  a  majority  of  two  votes,  45  voting  to  dismiss  the  article  and 
43  against  it. 

A  motion  to  reconsider  the  vote  was  made  by  John  Jones,  but  the 
voters  refused  to  reconsider,  46  voting  to  reconsider  and  48  against  it. 

Meeting,  April  6,   1868. 

"A^oted  that  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  hire  a  certain  number 
of  men  to  repair  the  highways  and  bridges  in  this  town  the  ensuing 
year.  Not  to  work  themselves  personally  but  to  superintend  the 
whole.  And  that  the  Superintendence  shall  not  exceed  in  cost  the 
expense  of  work  on  said  highways." 

The  name  of  the  man  who  made  the  motion  which  preceded  the 
above  vote  is  not  on  the  record,  but  he  was  doubtless  of  a  sarcastic 
turn  of  mind. 

"  Voted  that  sextons  be  paid  for  digging  graves  for  all  citizens  of  the 
town  out  of  the  treasury. 

Voted  to  pay  Freeman  C.  Carver  four  dollars  for  services  as  mod- 
erator." 

Appraisal  of  the  school  houses  as  reported  by  the  board  of  assess- 
ors, i86g  :  District  No.  i  appraised  at  S325,  No.  2  at  $300,  No.  3 
at  $200,  No.  4  at  $300,  No.  5  at  $300,  No.  6  at  $400,  No.  7  at  $100. 


212  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Meeting,   May  22,    1869. 

The  people  still  resisted  the  inevitable  and  fought  for  seven  schools 
as  indicated  by  the  following  votes  : 

"  Voted  to  occupy  the  seven  school  houses  on  their  present  locations. 

Voted  that  the  school  committee  be  instructed  to  set  up  a  school 
in  district  No.  i  and  district  No.  6  this  fall  and  to  set  up  seven 
schools  next  winter  in  the  present  school  houses." 

There  was  great  damage  by  floods  in  Oct.,  1869,  and  there  was  a 
special  meeting  to  see  about  repairs. 

Meeting,   March   15,   1870. 

Article  2'*  To  see  if  the  town  will  consent  to  surrender  its  charter  and 
divide  its  territory  between  the  towns  of  Amherst,  Prescott,  Enfield  and 
Belchertown  as  already  petitioned  for  to  the  Legislature  by  the  citizens  of 
Pelham,  and  also  to  designate  lines  of  division. 

"  Voted  that  we  surrender  our  charter — 86  in  favor,  36  against. 

Voted,  that  we  draw  a  line  straight  across  from  the  Northeast  cor- 
ner of  Belchertown  to  the  Northwest  corner  of  Enfield,  and  merge  all 
territory  now  belonging  to  Pelham  in  Belchertown  or  Enfield.  And 
then  starting  at  the  center  of  the  North  line  of  Pelham,  run  parallel 
with  the  west  line  of  said  Pelham  to  the  south  line,  merging  all  West 
of  said  line  in  the  town  of  Amherst  and  all  east  of  said  line  in  the 
town  of  Prescott. 

Made  choice  of  John  Jones,  Ansel  A.  Rankin,  Philander  Bartlett 
and  William  B.  Downing  a  committee  to  appear  before  the  legisla- 
tive committee." 

Amherst  refused  to  consider  the  proposition  of  annexation.  The 
Legislature  refused  to  grant  the  petition  of  the  town  for  surrender  of 
its  charter.  There  has  been  no  further  effort  to  surrender  the 
charter,  although  the  town  has  lost  much  in  inhabitants  and  in  valua- 
tion since  1870. 

There  were  eight  town  meetings  during  the  year  1870  and  almost 
the  entire  business  was  concerning  schools  or  school-houses,  and  the 
vexed  questions  involved  were  not  yet  settled.  The  records  of  those 
meetings  are  interesting  reading  in  some  respects  but  on  the  whole 
becomes  monotonous  and  tiresome.  That  the  people,  or  some  of 
them,  should  insist  on  having  eight  schools  in  town  when  there  were 
not  pupils  for  more  than  four  seems  strange,  but  it  is  to  be  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  it  was  hard  to  consent  to  breaking  up  of  the  old 


TOWN    MEETINCx    RECORDS.  213 

system  of  school  districts  and  allow  the  town  to  manage  the  schools 
with  little  regard  to  the  old  lines  and  associations.  There  were 
many  meetings  during  three  or  four  years,  or  until  1874  before  the 
consolidation  of  the  districts  was  affected. 

Meeting,    Feb.  8,    187 1. 

In  the  face  of  the  failure  of  the  petition  to  the  Legislature  for  per- 
mission to  surrender  the  charter  of  the  town  in  1870  Sylvester  Jewett 
and  Hiram  Ballou  petitioned  the  Legislature  of  1871  to  be  set  off  to 
Amherst,  and  the  meeting  of  the  above  date  was  called.  Action  of  the 
meeting  :  Made  choice  of  C.  D.  Eaton  as  agent  for  the  town  to  oppose 
the  petition  of  Messrs.  Jewett  and  Ballou  for  a  change  of  town  line. 

The  petitioners  failed  in  their  attempt  to  get  set  off  and  the  lines 
of  the  old  town  remained  intact.  The  town  would  vote  to  surrender 
the  charter,  but  would  not  allow  one  or  two  men  to  go. 

The  amount  assessed  upon  the  tax  payers  of  Pelham  for  the  year 
187 1  by  the  assessors  was  as  follows:  State  tax,  $625.00  ;  County 
tax,  $410.21:  Town  grant,  $3700.00;  Overlayings,  $136.19;  Delin- 
quent, $538.00  ;  Total,  $5429.38. 

Annual  Meeting,   April  5,   1875. 

"  Voted  to  change  the  time  of  holding  the  iinnual  meeting  from  the 
first  Monday  in  April  to  the  second  Monday  in  March. 

Voted  to  pay  the  Moderator  two  dollars  for  his  services. 

Voted  that  W.  K.  Vaille,  S.  Jewett  and  A.  A.  Rankin  formulate 
by-laws  for  the  town  and  report  at  next  meeting. 

A.  C.  Keith,  Town  Clerk.'" 

Meeting,  Nov.   7,   1876. 

The  year  1876  is  a  remarkable  one  in  the  history  of  the  town  in 
there  being  only  two  town  meetings  during  the  year.  The  annual 
meeting  in  March,  and  the  annual  November  election. 

The  consolidation  of  the  school  districts  had  removed  a  bone  of 
contention  that  had  caused  much  excitement  for  two  or  three  years 
and  the  town  had  been  called  together  often  to  wrangle  over  the  sub- 
ject. The  year  1877  was  like  1876  only  two  town  meetings,  the  peo- 
ple being  left  to  pursue  the  even  tenor  of  their  way,  having  no  excit- 
ing public  questions  to  consider  in  special  town  meetings,  and  so  it 
was  in  1878.       There  were  only  three  meetings  in  1879. 


2  14  history  of  pklham,   mass. 

Annual  Meetin(;,  March   14,   1881. 

After  the  election  of  officers,  the  following  votes  were  passed  : 

"Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  instructed  to  let  the  town  hall  for 
dances  only  to  select  parties,  who  shall  pay  ten  dollars  per  night  for  the 
use  of  the  same,  who  shall  be  responsible  for  good  order  in  the  hall, 
and  who  shall  employ  a  constable  to  preserve  order,  and  that  only  tem- 
perate and  orderly  company  shall  at  any  time  be  admitted  to  the  hall. 

Voted  to  rent  the  town  hall  for  three  dollars  per  evening  for 
religious  dances. 

Voted  Sylvester  Jewett  $1.50  for  services  as  Moderator. 

Adam  Cole,  Town  Clerk." 

Meeting,   December   17,    1881. 

This  meeting  was  called  to  accept  the  bequest  of  Samuel  Wright 
of  Northampton,  deceased,  as  explained  in  the  warrant. 

■'  Article  2.  To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  accept  of  the  bequest  of  the  late 
Samuel  Wright  of  Northampton  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  the  income  of 
which  is  to  be  given  annually  to  widows,  aged  and  intirm  persons  and 
orphan  children.  All  being  residents  of  said  town  and  not  town  paupers, 
and  appoint  a  board  of  trustees  to  invest  the  same."' 

"Voted  to  accept  the  bequest  with  the  conditions  annexed. 

Voted  that  the  present  board  of  Selectmen  be  appointed  trustees. 

S.  Jewett,   Moderator." 

The  year  1886  was  the  fifth  year  in  succession  in  which  the  people 
came  together  at  the  annual  March  meeting,  chose  their  town  officers, 
raised  and  appropriated  the  money  for  paying  for  all  the  town 
expenses,  and  then  returned  to  their  homes  and  contentedly  attended 
to  their  own  individual  affairs  until  the  November  election  of  state 
officers,  and  a  representative  to  the  General  Court  for  the  district  to 
which  the  town  belonged.  At  no  time  except  March  and  November 
were  the  voters  called  together  in  town  meeting.  Only  ten  town 
meetings  in  five  years,  hardly  more  than  were  held  in  a  single  year 
sometimes.  This  five  years  of  restfulness  from  town  meeting  excite- 
ments was  never  equalled  in  the  history  of  the  town,  and  only  once 
was  there  a  term  of  years  approaching  this  in  its  freedom  from  numer- 
ous town  meetings.  1876,  '77  and  '78  were  notable  for  having  the 
number  of  town  meetings  reduced  to  its  lowest  terms,  viz.,  two  each 
year. 


town  meeting  records.  215 

Annual  Meeting,  March   12,   1888. 

This  meeting  was  a  notable  one  in  the  history  of  the  town  in  some 
respects,  altliough  the  work  of  electing  officers  and  appropriating 
money  proceeded  without  any  peculiar  incidents  of  note. 

The  snows  of  a  century  and  a  half  had  whirled  around  the  old  Meet- 
ing house  in  which  the  town  meeting  was  held  the  twelfth  of  March, 
1888,  but  the  snow  that  day  filled  the  air  as  it  had  never  been  known 
to  do  before,  and  the  keen  blasts  from  the  north  had  been  piling  it  up 
in  drifts  in  every  direction  while  the  people  were  voting  money 
and  discussing  the  important  questions  covered  by  the  articles  in  the 
warrant.  When  the  meeting  dissolved  and  the  voters  started  out 
from  the  town  hall  they  became  aware  that  a  blizzard  was  upon  them 
such  as  none  had  ever  seen  before,  and  one  that  all  records  of  great 
storms  the  town  had  suffered  from  before,  came  far  short  in  compari- 
son. The  cold  was  intense  and  the  fierce  wind  froze  ears  and  cheek 
as  the  voters  started  out  for  their  teams.  Night  was  fast  coming  on 
and  many  who  were  detained  longer  than  the  rest  found  it  impossible 
to  make  headway  among  the  drifts,  and  the  intense  cold  made  the 
attempt  positively  dangerous.  Something  like  twenty  voters  were 
obliged  to  stay  over  night,  and  the  house  of  Town  Clerk  J.  W.  Keith 
was  filled  with  the  storm  bound.  Luckily  an  Amherst  meat  peddler 
was  among  those  that  the  deep  snow  and  the  cold  had  obliged  to 
seek  the  shelter  alTorded  by  Mr.  Keith. 

All  night  the  storm  howled  and  the  fast  falling  snow  piled  the 
drifts  higher,  and  when  Tuesday  morning  dawned  the  impossibility 
of  moving  along  the  snow  drifted  roads,  either  on  foot  or  by  team 
was  greatly  increased,  and  the  fury  of  the  blizzard  was  still  undimin- 
ished. All  clay  Tuesday  the  beleagured  ones  were  forced  to  remain 
the  guests  of  Mr.  Keith,  and  when  the  night  closed  down,  though  the 
storm  had  substantially  subsided,  the  great  drifts  were  impassable. 
On  Wednesday  a  portion  of  the  imprisoned  voters  succeeded  in 
reaching  their  homes  while  those  living  farther  away  dared  not 
attempt  it,  and  not  all  succeeded  in  surmounting  the  drifts  and  get- 
ting home  until  Thursday. 

But  the  meat  peddler's  sleigh  had  a  pretty  good  stock  of  beef  and 
pork,  and  all  were  well  fed  and  made  as  comfortable  as  possible. 

None  of  those  who  were  obliged  to  quarter  themselves  upon  Town 
Clerk  Keith  at  that  time  will  ever  forget  the  blizzard  of  March  12 
and    13,  1 888,  or  the  generous  and   hospitable  manner  in  which  Mr. 


2l6  HISTORY    OK    I'ELHAM.     MASS. 

Keith  entertained  them  during  their  enforced  visit  at  his  house.  All 
reached  their  homes  in  safety  however,  but  those  who  battled  with 
the  storm  and  the  drifts  that  Monday  night,  did  so  after  hours  of 
hard  struggle.  Altogether  it  was  probably  the  worst  storm  that  was 
ever  known  in  the  town,  certainly  the  only  one  that  was  given  a 
record  on  the  town  books. 

Skeich  (jf  Sylvester  Jeweti'. 

Special  meeting  Jan.  23,  1892  was  called  to  elect  a  successor  to 
Sylvester  Jewett,  Chairman  of  the  board  of  Selectmen,  who  had  died 
on  the  loth  of  the  month,  and  to  fill  another  vacancy  on  the  board 
caused  by  the  removal  from  town  of  H.  R.  Davidson. 

Mr.  Jewett  was  not  a  native  of  Pelham  but  came  to  town  with  his 
family  from  Northampton  March  ist,  1857,  settled  upon  the  Hark- 
ness  farm  which  has  the  line  between  Amherst  and  Pelham  for  its 
western  boundary.  Mr.  Jewett  was  an  active  man  of  34,  intelligent 
and  competent,  and  at  once  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
town.  He  was  first  elected  upon  the  board  of  assessors  in  1858, 
and  from  that  time  until  his  death  there  were  but  a  few  years  that  he 
was  not  an  otificer  of  the  town,  either  as  selectman,  assessor,  or  as  a 
member  of  the  school  committee.  On  the  school  board  he  was 
elected  for  three  terms  of  three  years  each,  and  in  all  ser\ed  eleven 
years.  He  served  as  assessor  for  thirty  years,  and  for  twenty  years 
of  the  time  was  also  on  the  board  of  selectmen,  most  of  the  time 
serving  as  chairman  on  both  boards.  For  much  of  this  time  the 
selectmen  were  also  the  overseers  of  the  poor,  which  increased  the 
burden  of  responsibility  upon  the  chairman  not  a  little.  Mr.  Jewett 
was  quite  often  chosen  as  Moderator  of  the  annual  as  well  as  the 
special  meetings,  and  in  e\ery  position  of  responsibilitv  he  was  called 
upon  to  fill,  discharged  the  duties  laid  upon  iiim  with  intelligence 
and  faithfulness.  Very  few  men  have  served  the  town  with  more 
desire  for  its  best  interests  than  did  Mr.  Jewett,  and  but  one  man 
has  ever  served  for  more  years  than  he  did.  The  office  of  town  clerk 
was  held  from  174610  1781  by  John  Dick:  but  Mr.  Dick  did  not 
serve  the  town  in  many  other  positions  during  that  time.  Afr.  Dick 
served  continuously  for  thirty-five  years  while  Mr.  Jewett  served 
thirty  years  out  of  thirty-four  as  assessor,  twenty  as  selectman  and 
and  eleven  on  the  school  board,   making  much   the  greatest  service 


SYLVESTER   JEWETT. 


THE    OLD    COMMUNION    SEiaiCE. 


HE    OLD    PULPIT. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  217 

the  town  has  ever  received  from  any  one  man.  In  politics  Mr. 
fewett  was  an  anti-slavery  man,  and  upon  the  formation  of  the 
republican  party  he  gave  his  support  to  it,  and  labored  zealously  for 
its  success  and  the  overthrow  of  slavery.  He  was  also  active  in 
religious  work ;  being  an  active  member  and  officer  of  the  Second 
Congregational  church  at  Amherst,  but  mingled  freely  with  the 
Methodist  people  in  religious  work.  In  1869  Mr.  Jewett  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  republicans  of  the  Fifth  Hampshire  district,  which  inclu- 
ded Belchertown,  Granby  and  Pelham,  for  representative  to  the 
General  Court.  He  was  elected  and  made  an  honorable  record  for 
himself,  the  town  and  district,  at  the  following  session  of  the  legis- 
lature. Sylvester  Jewett  was  born  at  Northampton  August  18,  1824, 
and  was  the  son  of  Ansel  Jewett,  for  many  years  a  resident  of  North- 
ampton, and  was  67  years  of  age  at  his  death. 


THE  OLD.MEETINC;  JIOUSE  IX  PELHAM. 
Where  town  meetin:,rs  have  been  held  for  154  consecutive 


A  SKETCH  OF  TFIE  OLD   MEETING  HOUSE. 

1739    TO     1897. 

For  the  last  ten  years,  or  more,  the  people  have  moved  quietly  along 
from  year  to  year,  with  little  of  startling  interest  for  record  upon  the 
town  books,  or  to  any  one  who  may  have  been  interested  in  the  town 


2l8  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

meeting  records  of  earlier  date,  wlien  matters  of  importance  were 
pressing  for  consideration  ;  consequently  we  have  only  made  a  record 
of  town  officers  elected  during  these  later  years,  which  is  to  be  found 
elsewhere.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1897  an  appropration  was 
made  for  repairs  upon  the  town  hall  and  the  sum  has  been  expended 
in  sheathing  the  ceiling  of  the  ancient  building  and  in  other  needful 
repairs,  so  that  now  the  old  meeting  house  or  town  hall  seems  to  be 
in  condition  for  service  to  several  generations  yet  to  come  ;  unless 
destroyed  by  tire  or  cyclone,  as  the  huge  a'cUow  pine  beams  that  were 
originally  for  the  support  of  the  galleries  on  one  side  and  the  two 
ends  of  the  building,  seem  sound  and  strong  enough  to  support  the 
floor  of  the  upper  room  now  used  as  a  town  hall.  In  April  1845 
it  was  "Voted  to  lay  a  lioor  across  the  gallery  and  move  the  stove 
now  in  the  old  meeting  house  above  and  repair  it  suitable  for  a  town 
house,  meaning  the  upper  part  of  the  old  meeting  house."  Since 
that  time  the  upper  portion  of  the  building  has  been  used  for  town 
purposes  and  the  lower  part  for  storage,  except  a  small  room  on  the 
lower  floor  in  the  southwest  corner  used  for  the  library,  selectmen's 
room,  and  a  vault  for  the  town  records,  built  in  1890.  The  repairs 
referred  to  above  have  added  much  to  the  appearance  of  the  room, 
and  to  the  comfort  of  the  people  who  assemble  for  town  meetings, 
and  social  gatherings. 

The  first  record  in  relation  to  a  meeting  house  was  the  vote  at  Capt. 
Daniel  Heywoods  house  in  Worcester,  where  the  proprietors  held  a 
meeting  Feb.  26,  1738-9,  instructing  the  committee,  which  reads  as 
follows : — "  That  then  they  do  in  the  Center  of  the  whole  Tract  as 
near  as  they  in  their  Judgments  Shall  think  proper  lay  out  Ten  Acres 
for  a  Meeting  House  Place,  burying  place  and  Training  field  &:c." 
At  the  first  meeting  of  the  proprietors  on  the  newly  purchased  tract 
Aug.  6,  1740,  at  the  house  of  John  Fergerson,  it  was  "Voted  that 
the  Meeting  House  be  46  feet  in  leangth  and  36  in  weadth."  At  the 
same  meeting  ^^120  in  part  for  a  meeting  house  was  voted.  Imme- 
diately following  this  vote  is  another  appropriation  of  ^120,  which 
some  think  was  a  .second  sum  of  ^120  voted  for  the  meeting  house, 
but  it  is  more  probable  that  William  Gray,  proprietors'  clerk,  made 
two  records  of  the  same  vote,  although  one  is  numbered  "  Fourthly  " 
and  the  other  "  Fifthly  ". 

May  19,  1741  it  was  "  Voted  that  there  be  ^^120  collected  for  the 
second  payment  on  the  Meeting  house."   Sept   i,  1741   "  Voted  that 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS.  219 

there  be  ^loo  assessed  for  the  last  payment  of  the  agreement  for  the 
Meeting  House."  The  first  meeting  of  tlie  inhabitants  of  Pelham 
warned  to  be  held  in  the  Meeting  House,  was  held  April  19,  1743  for 
the  choice  of  town  officers  under  the  act  of  incorporation. 

That  meetings  for  worship  were  held  in  the  unfinished  meeting 
house  for  sometime  before  April  19,  1743  is  quite  probable,  for  itAvas 
"  Voted  Aug  5th  1740  that  James  McCoulough,  James  Thornton  and 
Samuel  Gray  be  a  Comeety  to  agree  with  a  workman  to  rease  a  Meet- 
ing House  and  inClose  it  and  lay  the  under  floor  and  hinge  the  doors 
and  mack  the  windo  frames.  "  It  would  seem  improbable  that  the 
meeting  house  was  not  sufficiently  advanced  so  that  meetings  for  wor- 
ship or  for  gatherings  of  the  proprietors  on  business  could  be  held 
before  April  1743.  Those  Scotch  Presbyterians  were  not  the  men 
to  allow  the  work  on  the  meeting  house  to  drag  along  two  or  three 
years  before  it  was  far  enough  advanced  for  holding  meetings,  but  it 
might  have  been  sometime  before  it  was  finished  with  gallery,  pulpit 
and  pews. 

The  acceptance  of  the  act  of  incorporation  and  the  choice  of  town 
officers  did  not  end  the  business  of  the  original  proprietors,  for  they 
continued  to  hold  meetings  for  sometime  after  that.  The  first  pro- 
prietors meeting  called  at  the  meeting  house  was  that  of  May  16, 
1743,  nearly  a  month  after  the  first  town  meeting,  and  proprietors 
meetings  were  held  there  until  April  8,  1746.  About  that  time  there 
was  some  unpleasantness  between  a  portion  of  the  proprietors  and 
the  town  authorities  and  in  consequence  no  more  proprietors'  meet- 
ings were  called  at  the  meeting  house. 

Religious  meetings  prolDably  began  to  be  held  in  the  meeting  house 
as  soon  as  the  "  under  floor  "  was  laid  and  the  "  doors  hinged  "  in 
the  summer  of  1740,  although  the  final  settlement  with  Thomas  and 
John  Dick,  the  builders,  was  not  recorded  until  July  24,  1744,  when  it 
was  ''  Voted  that  Thomas  and  John  Dick  be  allowed  the  sum  of  ^30 
according  to  the  old  tenor  in  case  they  Delivered  up  their  bounds 
which  they  Received  from  the  Commetty  that  agreed  with  them  to 
build  the  Meeting  House." 

There  are  no  pews,  or  remains  of  the  old  square  box  pews  on  the 
ground  floor  of  the  ancient  building  but  at  the  west  end  of  the  upper 
or  town  hall  room,  the  stout  yellow  pine  frame-work  of  the  gallery 
seats  are  still  intact.  The  pulpit  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  build- 
ing and  high  enough  to  command  a  view  of  the  gallery  seats  as  well 


2  20  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

as  of  the  pews  beneath.  A  picture  of  that  portion  of  the  pulpit  in 
which  the  minister  stood  and  which  was  reached  by  a  winding  flight 
of  stairs,  accompanies  this  sketch.  Above  the  preacher's  head  hung 
the  "  sounding  board,  "  which  was  deemed  an  absolutely  necessary 
equipment  in  the  days  so  long  past. 

In  summer,  on  Sundays,  and  on  lecture  days,  when  no  fires  were 
needed,  and  during  the  long  cold  winters  when  none  could  be  had, 
these  Scotch  Presbyterian  men  and  women  gathered  at  the  meeting- 
house and  listened  to  two  long  sermons,  or  a  long  lecture  prepara- 
tory to  the  Communion  table,  and  received  from  the  hands  of  the 
pastor  or  elder  the  lead  token  that  would  admit  the  possessor  to  that 
ordinance  ; — this  they  continued  to  do  for  many  years,  for  not  until 
183 1  was  there  any  arrangement  for  warming  the  meetinghouse. 
Nov.  14th  of  that  year  it  was  "  Voted  that  the  subscribers  for  procur- 
ing a  stove  have  a  privilege  of  setting  it  up  in  the  meeting  house 
providing  they  obtain  it  and  support  it  throughout  at  their  own 
expense." 

In  1839  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  church  building  was  laid  by  Rev. 
Nathan  Perkins  of  Amherst,  and  after  nearly  a  full  century  of  occu- 
pancy for  religious  worship  the  old  meeting  house  was  moved  back 
into  the  old  burying-ground.  The  town  meetings  had  always  been 
held  in  the  meeting  house  up  to  that  time,  and  are  still  held  therein, 
making  154  years  that  all  the  important  and  unimportant  mat- 
ters of  town  business  have  been  discussed  and  decided  within  its 
historic  walls  at  town  meetings,  averaging  eight  to  ten  per  year,  since 
r743.  Here  they  met  and  consulted  with  each  other  and  took  action 
during  the  French  and  Indian  war,  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  the 
war  of  1812,  the  Shays  Rebellion,  and  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
Altogether  the  old  meeting  house  has  been  a  very  useful  building,  and 
about  it  gathers  more  of  historic  interest  than  attaches  to  any 
other  similar  structure  in  this  part  of  the  state. 


TOWN    MEETING    RECORDS. 


^'Cm^^ ^ 

COUM <?- 

ot^- -  •  ■  •■    X^  ^£^ 

c^—^ ^^.^^-^5^ 

■•J2.  ^"^  ■■■  - —   --    _ 


FACSIMILE   OF   WILLIAM   GILMORE'S   INVOICE.. 

See  Page  104. 


O  =1, 


CSIOEXCE    (IF    MKS.    AXMyiTIC    mokga: 


HE    "CITY       SCHOOL    HOUSE. 


SCHOOLS. 

From  1744  to  1897. 

EstahlisJimcnt  of  Schools  in  1744. — School  Committees. — Appropriations. 


Establishment  of  Schools  in  Pelham. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  great  labour  and  expense  attendant  upon 
the  purchase  and  settlement  of  this  tract  of  land, — the  clearing 
away  and  building  of  roads  and  bridges, — the  clearing  away  of  the 
forest,  and  the  building  of  their  log  houses, — the  breaking  up  of  por- 
tions of  their  home  lots  for  cultivation  to  raise  crops  for  the  sustenance 
of  themselves  and  families, — the  work  of  building  the  meeting  house, 
besides  the  many  other  necessary  matters  demanding  attention  to 
make  their  homes  and  families  comfortable ; — yet  it  was  but  little  more 
than  a  year  after  the  act  of  incorporation,  and  organization  under  it, 
before  they  began  to  feel  the  importance  of  a  school,  and  the  necessary 
action  on  the  part  of  the  town,  took  place  on  the  26th  of  April, 
1744.  Samuel  Gray  was  Moderator  of  the  meeting,  and  the  recorded 
vote  is  as  follows. 

"  Voted  that  there  be  a  scole  Keept  in  town  for  y"  Space  of  two 
Months,  at  ye  Dwelling  House  of  Ephriam  Cowan,  one  Month,  one 
Month  at  ye  Dwelling  house  William  Grays.  " 

Ephraim  Cowan  lived  on  home  lot  No.  42  and  was  probably  the 
same  farm  known  as  the  Collins  Brailey  place  fifty  years  ago,  and 
now  owned  by  Stephen  Rhodes. 

William  Gray  lived  on  home  lot  No.  1 1  about  a  mile  Northeast 
of  the  old  meeting  house,  at  the  center  of  the  town. 

No  appropriation  or  allowance  was  made  for  the  cost  of  the  school; 
nor  was  there  any  school  committee  chosen  to  employ  schoolmasters, 
— for  it  must  be  assumed  that  school  masters  were  employed,  as  very 
few  if  any  women  were  capable  of  filling  the  position  of  teacher  at  that 
early  day.  Nor  is  it  probable  that  girls  attended  school  when  schools 
were  first  established.  Sewing,  knitting,  spinning  and  weaving  and 
the  ordinary  duties  of  housekeeping,  was  considered  enough  for 
women  to  know,  and  the  girls  acquired  all  that  at  home. 


224  history  of  pelham,   mass. 

Meeting  May   14,   1745. 

It  was  "  Voted  that  there  be  a  scole  Keept  in  town  this  Present 
year. — y''  time  for  Keeping  s''  scole  is  in  ye  Months  of  August  and 
September  and  y"  Place  is  at  y"^  Meeting  house  in  s''  Pelham.  "  No 
allowance  of  money  was  made  to  meet  the  expense, — and  no  bills 
were  brought  in  to  the  debit  and  credit  meeting  for  settlement  for 
this  year; — after  that,  fixed  appropriations  were  voted  for  schools, 
and  school  committees  came  into  use  to  hire  school  masters,  etc.,  but 
school  committees  were  not  elected  regularly  at  each  annual  meeting 
until  about  1786. 

1746.  "  It  was  Voted  that  there  be  Thirty  Six  Pounds  Raised  to 
Pay  a  Scole  Master  for  Keeping  Scole.  " 

"  Voted  y'  there  be  a  Scole  in  y"  town  y"  Six  Months  Insuing  or 
as  soon  as  Convency  Will  allow. 

Voted  that  y"^  scole  be  Keept  two  Months  at  y'  Meetinghouse  & 
two  Months  at  Ephriam  Cowans  &  two  Months  at  Alexander  Con- 
keys.  Voted  that  John  Conkey,  Thomas  Dick  &  John  Gray  be  a 
Committee  to  Provide  a  Scole  Master  for  y"  town  for  y"  Six  Months.  " 

Meeting  March   ii    1747. 

It  was  "  Voted  that  there  be  Scole  in  town  Six  Months,  to  begin 
at  the  first  IJay  of  June  Nixt  &  to  continue  Six  Months  following, — 
Voted  also  that  ye  Scole  is  to  go  no  further  than  ye  Nole  Betwixt 
James  Taylors  &:  Alexander  Conkey's  and  two  Months  at  ye  Meet- 
ing House  and  to  go  no  further  than  the  Bridge  at  Ephriam  Cowans 
— Voted  that  ye  Scole  Money  be  Assessed  with  the  Debt  &  Credit 
Money.  " 

In  1748  it  was  "  Voted  that  there  be  a  Scole  Six  Months  to  begin 
the  first  of  June  Nixt  and  that  the  Scole  be  Keept  as  it  was  last  year." 

In  1749  it  was  "  Voted  that  there  be  ^140  old  tenor  for  a  Scole 
this  present  year  to  be  Keept  one  third  of  ye  Time  at  John  Savige's 
and  one  third  of  ye  Time  at  Samuel  Taylor's  and  one  third  of  ye 
time  at  ye  Meeting  House, — Said  Scole  is  to  be  Keept,  Month  about 
at  each  Plase  &  said  Scole  is  to  Begin  att  ye  Meetinghouse. 

April  10,  1750.  "Six  Pounds  thirteen  Shillings  and  four  Pence 
Lawful  Money  is  Voted  for  Support  of  Scole  for  this  Present  year.  " 

In  1 75 1.  "  ^6-13-4''  was  allowed  for  Scole  this  Present  year  and 
Patrick  Peebles  and  John  Savige  and  John  Hunter  be  a  Committee 
to  provide  Scole.  "' 


SCHOOLS.  225 

In  1752.  ;^S —  was  allowed  for  support  of  Scole  and  it  was 
"  Voted  that  there  be  a  Committee  chosen  to  provide  a  Scole  Master, 
said  Committee  is  John  Stinson,  Robert  Lotheridge  &  Andrew 
Maklam.  " 

1753.  "  ^5 — 6 — 8  allowed  for  Scole  this  year.  " 

1754.  "  £S — o — o  allowed  for  Schole  the  Present  Year.  " 

"  Voted  that  the  town  be  divided  in  regard  to  the  Scole — Voted 
Negatively  that  there  be  no  Committee.  " 

April  24,  1755.  "  Voted  that  the  Scole  Be  Keept  at  the  Ivleeting 
House  &  the  East  Hill  &  the  West  End  Each  place  to  have  thare  Proper 
Sheable  Share — Also  Voted  that  there  be  a  Schole  House  Built  at 
the  Meeting  House. — Likewise  Voted  that  thare  Be  a  Scole  House 
Built  at  the  West  End — Also  Voted  that  there  Be  a  Scole  House 
Built  at  the  East  Hill.  " 

March  24,  1756.  "Voted  that  there  is  ^40  allowed  for  the  support 
of  a  Scole  for  the  Present  Year — Voted  that  the  town  is  to  be  Divi- 
ded Into  five  parts — -Also  voted  that  thare  be  a  Committee  Chosen  to 
Divide  said  town  as  relating  to  ye  Scole — Said  Committee  is  James 
Berry,  Thomas  Hamilton,  George  Petteson,  Thomas  Johnson  & 
Alexander  Turner.  " 

T757.  "  ^13 — 6' — 8''  Voted  for  Schools  the  Present  year  and 
that  James  Berry,  John  Clark,  David  Cowden,  John  Blair  &  Thomas 
Johnson  be  a  Committee  to  provide  a  School  Master.  " 

1758.  "  The  Allowance  for  Schools  was  ;^i3 — 6'  8'.  There 
was  no  action  in  relation  to  school  houses  or  other  school  matter.  " 

1759. — "^40  was  Voted  in  lawful  money  to  be  Raised  to  Defray 
charges  already  arisen,  "  but  nothing  said  about  how  much  of  it  was 
for  schools. 

1760.  David  Houston,  Patrick  McMullen,  Thomas  Hamilton. 
William  Harkness  and  James  Furgerson  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
"  Place  the  Scole  Houses  said  Scole  Houses  to  be  Laid  as  other 
Reats.  " 

The  School  houses  were  placed  in  such  Quarter  of  the  town,  and 
"  Each  Pole  is  allowed  3  Shillings  pr  Day  at  Building  the  Scole 
Houses  " 

1 761.  ;^i8  was  allowed  for  the  support  of  School  this  Present 
year  and  "  Voted  that  the  Scole  is  to  be  continued  the  whole  year. 
Yo-ted    that    Each    Quarter    Build  their  own    Scole    Houses,     and 


226  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

later,  men  were  chosen  to  have  charge  of  money  appropriated  for 
Schole  houses  in  the  several  quarters  of  the  town. 

1762,  ^13— 6"— 8''.  1763,  ^13—6^—8.  1764,  ;^i3— 6^— 
S-  1765,  £20.  1766,  £20.  £2^0  allowed  for  the  support  of 
Schools  from  1767  to  1770. 

In  1770  it  was  "  voted  that  there  is  Alterations  to  be  Made  in  the 
School  Quarters  and  that  the  Under  named  Persons  are  set  off  by 
themselves  as  a  School  Quarter,  To  VVite — William  Conkey,  Alex- 
ander Conkey,  James  Taylor,  James  Pebels,  Eliza  Davenport,  James 
Gilmore,  John  Anderson.  John  McCraken,  John  McCartney,  James 
Hunter,  James  McCartney,  John  Hunter  &  William  Hunter.  " 

"  Voted  that  the  School  Houses  is  to  be  Built  &  Repaired  in  Each 
Quarter  of  the  town — Voted  that  there  is  ;^ioo  allowed  for  Building 
School  Houses  in  Each  Quarter  of  the  town — Likewise  that  Said 
Money  be  Divided  to  Each  Quarter  as  the  School  Rate  is  Devided.  " 

The  allowance  for  Schools  ranged  from  £2^  to  ;^3o  per  year  from 
1771  to  1778. 

1779.     £100. 

March  22,  1780.  Because  of  the  almost  worthless  character  of  the 
Continental  C'urrency,  it  was  voted  to  allow  ^1000  for  Schools. 

1 78 1.  The  sum  allowed  for  Schools  this  year  was  ^1500.  The 
people  were  under  the  crushing  burdens  of  the  struggle  for  liberty, 
but  they  did  not  neglect  to  vote  a  liberal  allowance  for  the  support 
of  the  schools. 

1782.  April  II,  ^30  was  appropriated  for  schools. 

1783^  £ao.  1784,  £ao.  1785,  ^40-  t^or  many  of  the 
years  after  schools  were  established,  all  that  the  records  show  about 
them  is  the  amount  allowed  or  voted  for  their  support.  Up  to  this 
time  School  Committees  had  been  chosen  but  a  few  years. 

1786.  There  was  a  return  to  the  plan  of  electing  a  school  com- 
mittee for  the  better  management  of  the  schools  this  year,  and  Dr. 
Robert  Cutler,  Ebenezer  Liskam,  John  Crawford,  Timothy  Packard, 
Deacon  Mathew  Gray  and  Jonathan  Hood  were  chosen  to  that 
important  service.     £c^o  was  allowed. 

1787.  School  Committee — Ebenezer  Liskam,  James  McMullen, 
James  Taylor,  John  Crawford,  Caleb  Keith  and  Jonathan  Hood. 

At  a  meeting  April  7th  of  this  year  it  was  "  Voted  Not  to  Devid 
the  School  Quarter  where  Dea.  John  Crawford  is  School  Committee 
Man,  "     ;i^5o  allowed. 


SCHOOLS.  227 

1788.  No  record  of  School  Committee  this  year.  ^50  allowed 
for  schools. 

1789.  ;^5o.  No  School  Committee  elected — In  the  Warrant  for 
a  town  meeting  May  4th  of  this  year  was  this  article  : 

"To  see  if  the  Town  will  come  into  some  Method  that  Each  School  Rick 
Shall  Build  and  Maintain  their  own  School  Houses — also  to  see  if  the  Town 
will  set  off  a  School  Rick  in  the  South  Part  of  the  Town.  Seth  Edson, 
Caleb  Keith  and  Stephen  Pettingill  were  voted  into  the  new  Edition  taken 
from  Belchertown." 

1790.  School  Commitee  — James  C.  McMillen,  Samuel  Finton, 
David  Conkey,  Joseph  Thompson,  Lt.  Henry  McCoUoch,  Lt  John 
Rinkin,  Jonathan  Hood  and  John  Straton. 

At  a  Meeting  Jan.  14,  1790  it  was  "  Voted  that  the  whole  of  the 
School  Money  belonging  to  the  South  Quarter  should  be  divided 
into  three  parts — The  one  half  to  be  for  the  Benefit  of  the  Middle 
Quarter  and  the  other  half  to  be  equally  divided  in  the  other  two 
extreme  parts — one  by  Mr.  Seth  Edsons  and  the  other  by  the  County 
road  by  Mr.  Thomas  Dick's."     £60  allowed. 

1 79 1.  Alexander  Berry,  James  C.  McMillin,  Joseph  Thompson 
David  Conkey,  Lt.  Henry  McColloch,  John  Straton,  Jonathan  Hood, 
John  Barber.     ;^6o  for  schools. 

1792.  Jonathan  Hood,  John  Barber,  Robert  Houston,  Joseph 
Thompson,  David  Conkey,  James  C.  McMillin,  Alexander  Berry, 
John  White.     ^60  allowed  for  schools. 

1793.  "  Voted  to  Establish  a  school  quarter  out  of  the  quarter 
south  of  the  Meeting  House  and  the  quarter  Dea.  Crawford  belongs 
to,  with  the  center  at  the  Meeting  House.  "  Committee  :  James  C. 
McMillan,  Alexander  Berry,  David  Conkey,  Robert  Houston,  Joseph 
Thompson,  John  White,  John  Barber,  Jonathan  Hood.  £Go  for 
schools. 

1794.  Alexander  Berry,  James  C.  McMillin,  William  Conkey, 
John  Peebles.  Robert  Houston,  John  \\'right,  Jonathan  Hood,  John 
Barber.     ^60  for  schools. 

1795.  Alexander  Berry,  James  C.  McMillin,  William  Conkey, 
Thomas  Thurston,  David  Harkness,  Jonathan  Thayer,  Lt.  John  Rin- 
ken,  John  Peebles.     ^80  for  schools. 

"  At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  Inhabitance  of  the  South  School  Quar- 
ter on  the  Second  of  June  1795  it  was  Voted  to  Divide  the  School 
Quarter. 


225  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Voted  to  Make  the  Divition  by  the  farms  of  Messrs  Elisha  Searl, 
Thomas  Montgomery,  Samuel  Cheever,  WilUam  Dunlap, — the  afore- 
mentioned Farms  to  belong  to  the  Middle  or  New  School  Quarter. 

Voted  for  the  School  Committee  to  request  the  Town  to  estab- 
lish the  above  Division." 

By  the  above  record  the  power  of  the  School  quarters,  School  Ricks, 
or  school  districts  to  change  their  boundries  is  plainly  indicated  ; 
in  this  instance  at  least  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  people  of  the 
school  quarter — a  new  line  was  established,  and  the  School  Com- 
mittee requested  to  go  forward  and  have  the  new  lines  established  by 
the  town." 

1796.  School  Committee — Alexander  Berry,  Archibald  McMillan 
William  Conkey,  John  Peebles,  Samuel  White,  Nathaniel  Sampson, 
Daniel  Harkness.     i^ioo  allowed. 

1797.  School  Committee — Alexander  Berry,  David  Wait,  William 
Conkey,  Eliot  Gray,  "Capt.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Robert  Houston,  Eliab 
Packard,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Sampson,  Daniel  Harkness.     ^100  allowed. 

The  following  important  votes  in  reference  to  building  and  repair- 
ing school  houses  were  passed  May  i,  1797.  "  Voted  to  raise  a  sum 
of  Money  to  Build  and  Repair  School  Houses — Voted  to  Raise  four 
Hundred  Pounds  to  Build  and  repair  school  Houses." 

"  Voted  to  Choose  a  trustee  in  Each  School  Quarter  in  s''  Town 
s"*  trustees  is  Robert  Houston,  David  Conkey,  Lt.  John  Rinkin,  Capt. 
Isaac  Abercrombie,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Sampson,  Alexander  Berry, 
Joseph  Hamilton,  David  Wait  and  Isaac  Tower. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  Shall  Commit  District  Lists  of  the 
Assesment  of  every  School  Rick  to  their  Trustee  Chosen  for  that 
Purpose  whose  Duty  it  shall  be  to  Receive  all  or  any  Part  of  the 
tax  and  pay  out  for  Labor  and  Material  to  Build  s''  School  Houses 
the  Receipt  of  s"*  Trustees  is  to  Answer  in  Payment  of  the  aforesaid 
tax. 

Voted  that  in  case  any  or  a  number  of  School  Ricks  shall  not 
need  the  whole  or  any  Part  of  the  aforesaid  tax  to  Build  and  Repair 
School  Houses  then  it  shall  be  the  Duty  of  the  Trustee  by  the 
Direction  of  a  Majority  of  the  School  Ricks  Notified  for  that  purpose 
to  apply  to  the  assessors  for  a  remit  to  pay  the  whole  or  such  part  of 
their  taxes  as  is  not  needful  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

Voted  that  the  Assessors  shall  Commit  the  Assesment  of  the  sum 
of  money  voted  to  Build  or  Repair  School  Houses  to  the  selectmen 
soon  as  mav  be  after  the  assesment. 


1  111.    \  Al,l.l,\ 


SCHOOLS.  229 

Voted  that  the  Trustees  shall  make  a  return  of  each  mans  name 
belonging  to  their  Rick. 

Voted  that  the  Trustees  shall  make  a  Return  to  the  Selectmen 
of  their  doings  sometime  before  the  next  Annual  Meeting.  " 

179S.  School  Committee — Alexander  Berry,  Bobert  Crosett, 
George  Cowan,  William  Conkey,  Benjamin  Jewett,  Jonathan  Pack- 
ard, James  Rinkin,  John  Harkness,   Ezra   Shaw,     i^ioo   for  schools. 

At  a  meeting  "  May  i  1798  Dea.  Nathaniel  Sampson,  Andrew 
Bannister  and  David  Conkey  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  fix  on 
a  place  where  the  School  House  shall  stand  in  Dea.  Ebenezer  Grays 
School  quarter.  "  But  when  the  Committee  brought  in  a  report  at 
an  Adjourned  meeting  it  was  voted  not  to  accept  the  report  of  the 
Committee  and  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 

1799.  School  Committee. — Henry  McColloch,  Eliab  Packard  Jr, 
James  Rinkin,  Lt.  John  Harkness,  James  Cowan,  Capt.  Isaac  Aber- 
crombie.     $350  appropriated. 

1800.  School  Committee. — Moses  Gray  s'\  Robert  Crosett, 
Thomas  Conkey,  William  Conkey,  James  S.  Park,  Lt.  Henry  McCol- 
lock,  Samuel  Peso,  Capt.  John  Harkness,  John  Barber.     $450. 

Having  given  what  may  be  of  interest  concerning  the  schools  from 
1744  to  1800,  only  the  school  committees,  and  appropriations  will 
follow  to  1897. 

The  schools  of  the  town  from  1800  to  1850  were  well  attended,  60 
to  70  pupils  being  often  in  attendance  in  a  single  school,  and  the  boys 
and  girls  were  kept  in  school  during  the  winter  term  until  iS  to  20 
years  of  age  and  under  competent  male  teachers.  From  1825  to 
1850  it  was  not  uncommon  to  have  a  term  of  school  during  the 
autumn  for  the  more  advanced  pupils,  which  was  termed  a  "  select 
school,  ''  and  these  terms  of  school  were  often  held  at  the  center 
school  house  or  old  meeting  house,  under  various  teachers,  Miner 
Gold  was  often  at  the  head  of  these  extra  schools.  After  Prescott 
was  set  off  in  1822  there  were  six  flourishing  schools  and  from  1850 
there  was  an  increase  to  eight  schools,  but  with  the  number  of  pupils 
growing  less  until  the  schools  were  reduced  to  four,  about  1874. 
The  number  of  pupils  of    school  age  now  (1897)  is  only  80. 

1 80 1.  Joseph  Little,  William  Miller,  John  Taylor,  Levi  Crawford, 
Joel  Grout,  James  King,  Ezra  Shaw,  John  Barber,  Dea.  Nath' 
Sampson.     $300. 

1802.  Capt.  Jeremiah  Miller,  John  Miller,   John  Taylor,  Abisha 


230  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Reeniff,  Harris  Hach,  Jonathan  Packard,  Paul  Thurston,  Dea.  Samp- 
son, John  Barber.     $400. 

1803.  Moses  Gray  2',  John  Miller,  James  Abercrombie,  Nahum 
Wedge,  Joel  Grout,  James  Washburn,  Nathaniel  Doge,  John  Barber, 
Nathaniel  Sampson.     $500. 

1804.  Bunis  Ayres,  John  Baker,  Alexander  Conkey  2'',  Nahum 
Wage,  Esquire  Abercrombie,  Isaac  Tower,  John  Barber,  Seth  Edson, 
Jun,  Nathaniel  Sampson.     $400. 

1S05.  Capt.  Gray,  William  Mellin,  Elisha  Conkey,  Esq.  Aber- 
crombie, Jacob  Packard,  Jun.,  Paul  Thurston,  Dea.  Sampson,  John 
Barber.     $450. 

1806.  Olney  Potter,  John  Barber,  Abiah  Southworth,  Jonathan 
Packard,  Abial  Lumbard,  William  Oliver,  James  Thompson,  Jun., 
Lyscom  Brigham,  Nathan  Felton.     $450. 

1807.  Paul  Thurston,  Thomas  Hayden,  Marson  Eaton,  John 
Barber,  William  Smith,  Wing  Kelley,  Capt.  Moses  Gray,  Obadiah 
Cooley,  Maj.  John  Conkey.     $450. 

£808.  Thomas  Vaughn,  John  Baker,  Eliot  Gray,  Silas  Williams, 
Asa  Shaw,  Oliver  C'urtis,  Lt.  David  Hannum,  John  Barber,  Jonathan 
Packard.     $450. 

1809.  John  Baker,  Sylvester  Titus,  Alexander  Conkey,  Jun., 
Henry  Kingman,  Marson  Eaton,  Paul  Thurston,  John  Rankin,  Jun., 
Lemuel  Hall,  Eliot  Gray.     $450. 

18 10.  Capt.  Moses  Gray,  William  Miller,  Israel  Conkey,  Thomas 
Conkey,  Levi  Taft,  Seth  Edson,  Jun.,  Samuel  Peso,  Lemuel  Hall, 
John  Rankin,  Jun.      $450. 

181 1.  Isaac  Powers,  Peter  Stockwell,  Levi  Crawford,  Abiah 
Southworth,  Henry  Kingman,  Samuel  Peso,  Lemuel  Hall,  John  Gray, 
John  Taylor.      $500. 

1812.  Peter  Stockwell,  Constant  Ruggles,  Esq.,  Capt.  John  Tay- 
lor, Silas  Boynton,  Reuben  Westcott,  Seth  Edson,  Jun.,  Hafifield 
Gould,  Jesse  ¥.  Peck,  Ephriam  Randall.     $500. 

1813.  Roswell  Jennings,  Jonathan  Miller,  David  Conkey,  Jun., 
Nahum  Wedge,  Daniel  Packard,  Jonathan  Packard,  Asa  Shaw, 
Haffield  Gould,  Pliny  Hannum,  Paul  Thurston.     $500. 

181 4.  Jonathan  Richardson,  James  Hyde,  Alexander  Conkey, 
Oliver  Hamilton,  Daniel  Packard,  Jonathan  Packard,  Samuel  Peso, 
Pliny    Hannum,  Silas  Johnson.     $500. 

18 15.  Peter    Stockwell,    Barna    Brigham,    John    Taylor,     Isaac 


SCHOOLS.  .  231' 

Abercrombie,  Henry  Kingman,  Paul  Thurston,  John  Gray  2'^,  OHver 
Smith,  Oliver  Hamilton.     $500. 

18 16.  Alexander  Conkey,  Luther  Chapin,  Obadiah  Cooley, 
Reuben  Westcott,  Moses  Gray  2'',  Jonathan  Packard,  Elijah  Randall, 
Olney  Potter,  Lewis  Draper.     $500. 

1817.  Ithamar  Conkey,  Joseph  Pierce,  Jr.,  Wm.  Harkness.     $500. 

18 18.  Ithamar  Conkey,  Chester  Gray  and  the  Minister.     $600. 

1819.  Rev.  W.   Bailey,    Albigence    King,  Stacy  Lindsay.    $600. 

1820.  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey,  Stacy  Lindsay,  Isaac  Briggs.     $500. 

1821.  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey,  Jesse  F.  Peck,  Stacy  Lindsay,  Dr., 
Albigence  King,  Josiah  Pierce.     $500. 

1822.  Dr.  A.  King,  Isaac  Briggs,  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey,     $350.- 

1823.  Rev.  W.  Bailey,  Henry  Kingman,  John  Rankin.     $300. 

1824.  Rev.  W.  Bailey,  Cyrus  Kingman,  Wells  Southworth,  Mar- 
tin Kingman,  Rufus  Grout.      $350. 

1825.  Rev.  W.  Bailey,  Dr.  A.  King,  Cyrus  Kingman,  Daniel 
Thompson,  Rufus  Grout.     $350. 

1826.  Dr.  Daniel  Thompson,  Rufus  Grout,  Wells  Southworth, 
Alanson  Chapin,  Martin  Kingman.     $350. 

1827.  Rufus  Grout,  Isaac  Briggs,  Oliver  Bryant,  Miner  Gold, 
Grove  Hannum.     $350. 

1828.  Miner  Gold,  John  Parmenter,  Rufus  Grout.     $350. 

1829.  Isaac  Briggs,  Dr.  Daniel  Thompson,  Alanson  Chapin.  $350 

1830.  Cummings  Fish,  Martin  Kingman,  John  Parmenter.     $350 

1 83 1.  Rev.  Isaac  Stoddard,  Dr.  Daniel  Thompson,  C.  Fish.  $350 

1832.  Dr.  D.  Thompson,  Cummings  Fish,  Ansel  A.  Rankin.    $350 

1833.  Miner  Gold,  Thomas  Hayden  Jr.,  Cheney  Abbott.     $350 

1834.  Dr.   Daniel  Thompson,   Cheney  Abbott,  C.   Fish.      $350 

1835.  Rev.  Luther   Pierce,    Dr.    D.    Thompson,  C.  Fish.     $350 

1836.  Rev.  Luther  Pierce,  Dr.  D.  Thompson,  Miner  Gold.    $350, 

1837.  George  B.  Pitman,  Amnion  Cook,  Simon  Cook.     $350. 

1838.  Miner  Gold,  Cummings  Fish,  Alfred  Taylor.     $400. 

1839.  Dr.  Nath'l  Ingraham,  C.  D.  Eaton,  Isaac  L.  Brown.    $400. 

1840.  Calvin  D.  Eaton,  John  Carter,  Wm.  C.  Rankin.     $400. 

1841.  Calvin  D.  Eaton,  Chester  Gaskell,  Wm.  C.  Rankin.     $400. 

1842.  Calvin  D.  Eaton,  Chester  Gaskell,  John  B.  Hall.     $400. 

1843.  Same  as  1842.     $400. 

1844.  Chester  Gaskell,  John  B.  Hall,  Monroe  Eaton.     $400. 

1845.  John  B.  Hall,  Monroe  Eaton,  Wm.  Barrows.     $400. 


232  HISTORY    OK    FELHAM,    MASS. 

1846.  William  Barrows,  Cheney  Abbott,  I.  H.  Taylor.     $400. 

1847.  George  B.  Pitman,  C.  D.  Eaton,  David  Abercrombie,  James 
M.  Cook,  Lewis  B.  Fish.     $400. 

1848.  Rev.  A.  C.  Page,  Rev.  I.  B.  Bigelow,  Abel  Fletcher.  $400. 

1849.  Rev.  A.  C.  Page,  Miner  Gold,  Chester  Gaskell.     $400. 

1850.  Chester  Gaskell,  INIonroe  Eaton.     $400. 

1851.  Chester  Gaskell,  ('.  D.  Eaton,  Warren  C.  Wedge.  $400. 

1852.  C.  D.  Eaton,  Monroe  Eaton,  A.  A.  Rankin.      $400. 

1853.  A.  G.  Craig,  Philo  D.  Winter,  Monroe  Eaton.     $500. 

1854.  A.  A.  Rankin,  P.  D.  Winter,  W.  C.  Wedge,  C.  D.  Eaton, 
Miner  Gold,  Rufus  Grout,  Horace  Gray.     $400. 

1855.  Milo  W.  Field,  Charles  P.  Aldrich,  James  M.  Cook.     $500. 

1856.  John  Jones,  P.  D.  Winter,  A.  A.  Rankin.     $500. 

1857.  John  Jones,  C.  D.  E^aton,  A.  A.  Rankin.      $700. 

1858.  John  Jones,  three  years;  A.  A.  Rankin,  two  years;  C.  D. 
Eaton,  one  year.       $500. 

1859.  Rufus  Grout  for  three  years.     $550. 
i860.      Miner  Gold  for  three  years.      $550. 

1861.  Ansel  A.  Rankin.      $500. 

1862.  William  H.  Dowden.      $550. 

1863.  John  Jones.     $500. 

1864.  Ansel  A.  Rankin.     $700. 

1865.  Sylvester  Jewett.     $600. 

1866.  John  F.  Dyer,  S.  Jewett,  Robert  Miller.     $800. 

1867.  Ansel  A.  Rankin.     $1000. 

1868.  Sylvester  Jewett.     $1050. 

1869.  C.  H.  Hobby.     5 1000. 

1870.  Mrs.  Moses  L.  \^'ard,  Mrs.  H.  B.  P]rewer  for  three  years; 
C.  D.  Eaton,  John  Jones  for  two  years  ;  James  Hanks,  David  Shores 
for  one  year.     $1000. 

187  I.      Miner  Gold,  Mrs.  H.  Brewer.      $1000. 

1872.  S.  Jewett,  James  Hanks.  J.  T.  Hughes  for  three  years ; 
Jason  Washburn,  J.  L.  Brainard  for  two  years.      Si 000. 

1873.  $1000. 

1874.  $1000. 

1875.  Jason  Washburn  for  three  years,  W.  K.  Vaille  for  two 
years,  Austin  Rankin  for  one  year.      $900. 

1876.  John  Jones.     $700. 

1877.  Dr.  Herman  Heed  for  three  years,  Asahel  Gates  for  one 
year.     $700. 


SCHOOLS.  233 

1878.  Asahel  Gates  for  three  years.     $700. 

1879.  John  Jones  for  three  years.     $650. 

1880.  John  F.  Dyer  for  three  years.     $650. 

1881.  Timothy  Sabin  for  three  years.     $600. 

1882.  Alfred  Tuttle  for  three  years.     $600. 

1883.  S.  Jewett,  J.  Jones  for  three  years,  J.  L.  Brainard  for  two 
years,  Moses  L.  Ward,  Wm.  P.  Montgomery  for  one  year.     $600. 

1884.  James  Hanks,  Asahel  Gates  for  three  years.     $600. 

1885.  Charles  B.  Shores.  Charles  L.  Ward  for  three  years.  $700- 

1886.  S.  Jewett,  Alfred  Tuttle  for  three  years.     $700. 

1887.  M.  E.  Boynton,  Dwight  Presho  for  three  years.      $700. 

1888.  J.  R.  Anderson,  H.  R.  Davidson  for  three  years.      $700. 

1889.  J.  W.  Knight,  C.  E.  Humphrey  for  three  years.      $500. 

1890.  Myrett  E.  Boynton,  Dwight  Presho  for  three  years.     $500- 
and  dog  fund. 

1 89 1.  John  L.  Brewer,  Louise  M.  Brewer  for  three  years. 

1892.  Mrs.  J.  L.  Haskins,  E.  M.  Harris  for  three  years.     $600. 

1893.  C.  E.  Humphrey,  J.  W.  Knight  for  three  years.     $700. 

1894.  J.  R.  Anderson,  H.  S.  Allen  for  three  years.     $400  and 
dog  fund. 

1895.  Miss  Louise  M.  Brewer,  John  L.   Brewer,  for  three  years. 
$400  and  dog  fund. 

1896.  C.  E.  Humphrey,   Charles  L.  Ward,  for  three  years.     $600- 
and  dog  fund. 

1897.  J.  R.  Anderson,  Henry  S.  Allen.     $500  and  dog  fund. 


MILLS,  MANUFACTURIES,  Etc 


Lands  for  Mi//s,  IJJQ. — Corn  Mill,  IJSS- — Stinsons  Sauniiill,  lj6o. — 
Hamilton's  Saivmill,  1783. — Barlozv's  Sawmill,  ijSj. —  Town 
Takes  Action,  iJQT. — Mills  Built  on  Ho?ne  Lot  36,  1803-4. — 
Alany  Owners  of  Mills  in  the  Hollow. — Stephen  Fairbank's 
Carding  Machine,  18 13. — Shoe  Peg  Btisiness  on  Pergy  Brook. — 
Land  for  Mill  at  West  Pelham,  17 JQ. — Scythe  Shop  and  Foun- 
dry.—  Cardifig  Machine,  i8o8.—fillson's  Mills,  1820. —  Various 
Owners  of  Mills. — Fishing  Rod  Busifiess,  i8j8. — Montague 
City  Pod  Co. — Brotvn's  Turning  Shop. — Charcoal. — Stone 
Quarries. — Miscellaneous  Manufacturing.  —  Lnnkeepers  and 
Retailers. — Merchafits. — fustices  of  the  Peace. — Physicians. — 
Blacksmiths. 


The  proprietors  of  the  new  town  early  made  provisions  for  build- 
"ing  mills  for  grinding  their  grain  and  for  sawing  lumber,  but  just  the 
earliest  date  that  a  mill  was  put  in  operation  no  record  has  yet  been 
found.  In  the  description  of  Home  Lot  No.  56,  provision  was  made 
for  building  a  mill. 

"No.  56 — Is  a  Home  Lott  Laid  out  to  James  Taylor  Iny""  s''  Lis- 
burn  Propriety  &  it  Lays  Iny"  Second  and  third  Range  &  Lays 
Quantity  for  Quality  Containing  One  Hundred  &  fifty  acres.  It 
Bounds  N:  on  Third  Division  No  24  W:  on  third  Division  No  46 
partly  and  partly  on  home  lott  No  55  &  partly  on  Second  Division 
No.  19  S  :  on  third  division  No  28  partly  and  partly  on  third 
Division  No  46  &  East  ony''  River  ye  N.  E.  Corner  is  a  Maple  tree 
from  thence  it  Runs  \V  5  Degrees  South  180  perch  to  a  stake  and 
stones  from  thence  it  Runs  W  5  Degrees  South  180  Perch  to  a  Stake 
and  Stones  from  thence  South  136  perch  to  a  stake  and  Stones  from 
thence  E  to  y'-  River  and  from  thence  to  y"  Corner  first  Mentioned, 
— a  highway  of  two  perch  Wide  to  be  allowed  out  ony*"  N  :  Side  of  y'' 
Range  Line  Running  through  Said  Lott  and  Said  Lott  is  allowed  six 
,perch  wide  ony"-'  West  side  of  Ye  River  &  twenty  perch  In  Length — 


MILLS,    MANUFACTORIES,    ETC.  235 

Said  Line  beginning  att  y*"  South  Line  of  y"  above  Named  Lott  &  to 
proceed  from  thence  Down  y''  River  Likewise  on  ye  East  side  of  ye 
River  adjoining  y"  former  there  is  20  percli  Wide  of  Land  Said 
twenty  perch  wide  of  Land  is  to  Run  In  Length  Beginning  att  y^ 
Water  of  y^  Pond  and  Run  down  y^  River  as  far  as  forementioned  on 
y^  West  side  On  ye  River  Doth,  and  no  further,  Said  Land  being 
allowed  for  ye  Privilige  of  Building  a  Mill  on  y"  River  &  Allowed  all 
y'^  Land  Upwards  to  Home  Lott  No  20  for  Pond  Room.  Surveyed 
In  April  1739." 

The  first  allusion  to  a  corn  mill  that  is  found  upon  the  records,  is 
in  the  record  of  the  annual  town  meeting,  March  3,  1755,  when 
besides  the  election  of  officers  several  roads  were  consented  to,  and 
among  them  is  the  following  entry  : 

"  These  May  Certifie  that  I  am  Willing  to  Let  ye  Road  go  Where 
it  now  Dos  Between  Matthew  Gray*  &  ye  Corn  Mill,  Having  ye 
Range  Rode  Equivolent.  John  McFarland." 

John  McFarland  was  not  one  who  drew  land,  but  he  may  have 
been  a  son  of  Andrew  McFarland  who  drew  Home  lot,  No.  39  ;  also 
lot  No.  39  second  division,  and  a  No.  60  third  division.  Home  lot, 
No.  39,  was  half  a  mile  west  of  the  meeting  house,  no  corn  mill 
could  be  built  there.  Lot  No.  39  second  division  was  on  both  sides 
of  the  West  branch  in  range  4,  and  the  corn  mill  was  probably  on  the 
river  at  that  point. 

The  next  mention  of  a  grist  mill  in  the  town  is  found  in  a  vote 
changing  the  location  of  a  road  in  1762,  but  it  was  not  upon  the  lot 
No,  56,  but  might  have  been  on  the  West  branch  at  some  point  above 
or  below  lot  56.     The  vote  referred  to  is  as  follows  : 

"  Voted  that  the  Road  be  Altered  from  Matthew  Grays  Toward  ye 
Corn  Mill  about  Four  Rode  or  as  far  as  the  Surveyor  will  think 
proper." 

Up  to  this  time  nothing  had  been  done  by  the  owner  of  lot  56 
towards  erecting  a  mill,  as  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Phelps  to  the  town 
that  same  year  indicates. 

John  Savige  was  scheduled  as  the  owner  of  a  sawmill  on  the  valu- 
ation list  as  early  as  1760,  and  on  the  same  list  John  Lucore  is 
listed  as  the  owner  of  one  half  of  a  grist  mill,  also  John  Crawford  for 
half  of  a  grist  mill ;  perhaps  they  together  owned  one  and  the  same 
mill. 


236  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Town  Meeting,  Sept.   14,   1762. 

In  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  there  was  an  article  as  follows : 

"  Article  4  To  see  if  the  town  will  grant  Mr.  Phelps  the  Stream  and  place 
to  build  a  Grist  Mill  &  Dam  in  and  Upon  the  Branch  of  Swift  River  by  the 
Bridge  across  it  in  the  Highway  leading  from  the  Meeting  House  in  s''  Pel- 
ham  to  William  Conkeys  Dwelling  house  in  s'^  Pelham  if  he  Clear  the  Town 
of  Damage." 

On  this  article  it  was  "  Voted  that  There  is  nothing  acted  on  the 
forth  article." 

When  the  survey  of  the  Lisburn  property  was  made  the  fine 
stream  running  through  the  Hollow  could  but  suggest  to  the  minds 
of  the  sturdy  settlers  the  opportunity  to  locate  a  grist  mill  for  the 
convenience  of  the  people,  and  with  home  lot  No.  56,  was  coupled  the 
obligation  requiring  the  one  who  drew  that  lot  to  build  a  mill ;  fail- 
ing to  do  it,  the  land  set  apart  for  mill  and  pond  was  reserved  for  some 
one  that  would. 

James  Taylor  was  the  fortunate  man  to  draw  lot  No.  56,  but  up  to 
1762  he  had  failed  to  build  a  mill.  Possibly  it  was  the  hope  that 
Mr.  Taylor  would  do  so  soon  that  led  the  people  to  disregard  the 
proposition  of  Mr.  Phelps. 

At  a  meeting  Oct.  20,  1791,  the  following  article  appeared  in  the 
warrant  : 

"To  see  if  the  Town  will  grant  their  right  of  Privilege  thair  is  in  the  West 
Branch  for  the  purpose  of  Erecting  a  Mill  or  Mills  for  the  purpose  of  Grind- 
ing Grain  to  any  Person  or  Persons  who  will  appear  to  Engage  to  Erect  s^ 
mills  to  the  Exceptance  of  s-^  Inhabitance  of  Pelham." 

Action  on  the  Above  Article. 

"  Voted  to  take  advice  of  some  Lyor  Respecting  the  Privilige  of  a 
Mill  Place  that  is  laid  out  on  the  West  Branch  that  Runs  through  s'' 
Pelham. 

Voted  to  Choose  a  Committee  to  inspect  s''  matter, — Said  Com- 
mittee is  Hugh  Johnston,  Lt  John  Rinken,  Lt  Nathaniel  Sampson. 

Voted  to  adjourn  s''  Meeting  to  Thursday  the  third  day  of  Novem- 
ber next  at  one  oclock  in  the  afternoon. 

Then  Met  and  first  voted  to  Raise  a  Committee  to  Enquire  of  Mr 
James  Taylor  the  Reasons  why  he  has  not  Built  a  Grist  Mill  on  ye 
spot  ye  Proprietors  laid  out  to  his  Lot  for  the  Privilige  of  a  Mill  and 
if  not  Sufficient  Reasons  given,  to  Demand  of  him  to  Build  a  Mill. — 


DAiM    AXD    UKIDGE   ACROSS   THE    WEST    BRANCH. 


UP   THE   VALLEY    OF   THE    WEST    BRANCH    FROM    THE    CEMETERY. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  237 

Chose  Mr  Hugh  Johnston,  Mathew  Clark  and  Andrew  Abercrombie 
a  Committee  for  the  purpose  above." 

No  record  has  been  found  of  the  result  of  this  action  of  the  town. 
Whether  James  Taylor  built  the  long  delayed  grist  mill  or  whether 
some  other  man  did,  no  one  living  can  probably  determine,  and 
unless  some  record  turns  up  to  decide  it  the  question  must  remain 
unsettled.  It  would  seem  probable  that  the  earnestness  with 
which  the  town  took  hold  of  the  matter,  as  indicated  by  the  record, 
that  James  Taylor  or  some  other  man  was  to  be  forced  to  improve 
the  fine  water  privilege  for  the  accommodation  of  the  people  without 
further  delay.  The  people  were  doomed  to  still  further  waiting  for 
the  much  needed  mill,  as  the  following  records  plainly  prove.  In  a 
warrant  for  a  town  meeting,  March  17,  1800,  is  the  following  article: 

"  To  see  if  the  Town  will  Improve  the  Privilige  of  Building  Mills  on  the 
West  Branch  having  Respect  for  the  former  vote  of  the  Town." 

Action  upon  the  above  article  is  recorded  as  follows  : 

"  Voted  to  Chuse  a  Committee  to  see  if  the  Mill  Place  that  is  laid 
out  on  the  West  Branch  whether  it  Belongs  to  the  Town  or  any  other 
Person  or  Persons.  Said  Committee  is  Joseph  Akers,  Capt  Isaac 
Abercrombie  and  David  Conkey.'' 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  for  one  hour,  and  on  reassembling  the 
following  vote  was  passed  : 

"  Voted  that  the  Committee  that  was  Chosen  to  inspect  the  Mill 
Place  on  the  West  Branch  they  are  to  Examine  the  Town  Book  and 
if  they  find  that  it  is  Voted  to  Doctor  Hinds  they  are  to  Desist  till 
they  have  further  orders  from  the  Town." 

Dr.  Nehemiah  Plinds  was  a  prominent  man  in  town,  and  a  man  of 
property  who  was  at  one  time  the  largest  tax  payer  in  the  town,  and 
it  is  evident  that  the  people  were  not  anxious  to  crowd  the  Doctor 
provided  the  records  showed  him  to  be  the  lawful  owner  of  the  unde- 
veloped mill  privilege  on  the  West  branch  ; — hence  the  vote  ordering 
the  committee  to  desist  if  they  should  find  Dr.  Hinds  in  legal 
possession. 

In  an  old  account  book  that  belonged  to  William  Conkey  (Uncle 

Billy)  there  are  entries  showing  the  payment  of  money  for  millwright 

work  in  the  years    1803  and    1804.     Mr.  Milo  Abbott  of  Prescott  is 

of  the  opinion  that  Uncle  Billy  Conkey  was  one  of  three  men  that 

17 


238  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

built  the  first  mill  on  the  West  branch  at  the  place  near  the  bridge 
where  there  have  been  mills  for  many  years. 

■Felton  &  Conkey  were  taxed  as  a  firm  in  1809,  but  whether  they 
were  in  company  in  the  mill  business  the  tax  entry  does  not  state. 
Ansel  and  Robert  Conkey,  sons  of  Uncle  Billy,  are  believed  to  have 
been  owners  of  the  mills  for  ten  years  or  so,  perhaps  longer,  and 
then  came  Nathan  Felton,  who  was  proprietor  for  some  time  and 
sold  to  Mala  Cowles  of  Belchertown,  and  his  son  Edwin  Cowles 
operated  them, — the  sawmill  on  the  east  side  and  a  grist  mill  on  the 
west  side  of  the  stream.  Cowles  owned  the  mills  from  about  1S40 
until  '48  or  '49,  and  rented  them  to  Leland.  Gillett  &:  Gilbert  for 
the  manufacture  of  axe  handles. 

William  Holt  of  Dana  purchased  the  mills  of  Cowles  in  1852  or 
'53,  and  was  the  owner  until  he  sold  them  to  J.  M.  Cowan,  who  pur- 
chased them  in  1854.  Mr.  Cowan  and  Marcus  Grout  were  in  part- 
nership for  awhile,  as  was  L.  M.  Hills  in  the  manufacture  of  bobbins. 
In  1867  Cowan  sold  out  the  mills  and  the  business  to  Hills  and 
Westcott  of  Amherst,  who  carried  on  the  bobbin  business  until  the 
shop  burned  in  1874.  Hills  and  Westcott  then  divided  the  property, 
W.  S.  Westcott  taking  the  property  on  the  east  side  of  the  stream  and 
H.  F.  Hills  the  property  on  the  west  side. 

Westcott  sold  the  mill  on  the  Prescott  side  to  Theodore  F.  Cook 
in  1873  and  Cook  built  a  new  saw  mill. 

Hills  sold  his  mill  property  on  the  west  side  of  the  stream  to  John 
Vanstone  in  188 1.  T.  F.  Cook  sold  the  sawmill  to  E.  Downing  of 
Enfield  in  1889,  and  John  Vanstone  purchased  it  of  Downing  in 
189 1.  Vanstone  owns  the  property  on  both  sides  of  the  stream  at 
present  but  the  mills  on  the  west  side  have  gone  to  ruin. 

Hamilton's  sawmill  is  mentioned  as  standing  in.  1785, — location 
not  definite.  Also  John  Hoar's  sawmill  about  that  date.  In  1790 
there  is  mention  of  a  sawmill,  whose  owner  is  not  named,  in  a  recorded 
vote  as  follows :  "  Voted  that  the  road  Laid  from  the  Sawmill  to 
William  Conkeys  be  Shut  up  by  two  Gats  one  at  Each  end  of  s'^ 
Road  with  two  Hors  Blocks  at  each  Gate.''  The  mills  referred  to 
above  were  situated  in  the  easterly  part  of  the  town,  probably  in  the 
Hollow. 

In  the  record  of  a  road  established  for  Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray  and 
others  in  1787  occurs  the  following  mention  of  a  mill : 

"Beginning  southerly  of  Dea   Ebenezer  Gray"  house  at  the  third 


INIILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  239 

range  road  and  running  as  described  by   various  turns  to  a   laid  out 
road  from  Shutesbury  to  Barlow's  sawmill." 

In  1805  there  was  an  article  in  a  town  meeting  warrant  : 
"  To  see  if  the  town  will  grant  that  the  Surveyors  shall  allow  work    Don 
at  the  Bridge  by  Barlow's  sawmill  in  the  present  Highway  tax." 

Wood's  sawmill  is  also  mentioned  in  the  same  vote  as  near  a 
bridge.  Turner's  sawmill  is  referred  to  as  being  on  the  county  road, 
leading  from  Pelham  to  Leverett,  in  iSoi. 

April  3,  1815,  it  was  "  Voted  to  discontinue  a  part  of  the  ror.d 
running  from  William  Conkeys  to  John  Hoars  Sawmill."  I'his 
record  does  not  locate  John  Hoar's  mill  but  it  was  undoubtedly  upon 
the  West  Branch  near  the  farm  of  Thomas  Conkey,  about  a  mile 
north  of  the  sawmill  of  John  Vanstone,  at  the  bridge  across  the  West 
Branch.  Calvin  Chapin  of  Prescott  says  that  John  Hoar  owned  the 
privilege  at  that  point  on  the  stream  and  after  he  (Chapin)  came  to 
town  in  1824,  that  John  Baker  built  a  mill  on  Hoar's  privilege  and 
was  to  have  the  use  of  the  mill  for  twenty  years,  and  then  it  was  to 
become  the  property  of  Mr.  Hoar.  It  is  quite  probable  that  John 
Hoar  had  a  mill  on  that  privilege  previous  to  1815,  when  the  vote  to 
discontinue  the  portion  of  road  leading  from  William  Conkey's  tavern 
to  John  Hoar's  sawmill  was  passed. 

Early  in  the  century,  perhaps  as  early  a  18 15,  one  Stephen  Fair- 
banks built  or  owned  a  mill  on  what  is  known  as  the  Pergy  brook, 
and  not  far  from  where  the  sawmill  of  David  Shores  now  stands. 
Fairbanks  had  a  carding  machine  in  his  shop  or  mill  and  received 
the  wool  from  the  farmers  to  be  carded  into  rolls  for  greater  con- 
venience in  spinning.  He  ran  his  carding  machine  for  some  years 
and  then  sold  it  to  Cheney  Abbott.  Abbott  continued  the  business 
for  a  number  of  years  or  until  it  run  out,  because  the  practice  of 
spinning  wool  on  the  large  wheel  began  to  die  out,  and  then  Abbott 
sold  his  mill  to  Austin  Conkey  and  Miner  Gold,  who  added  a  story 
to  the  shop  and  started  the  manufacture  of  shoe  pegs.  The  shoe 
peg  business  not  having  proved  a  success  Mr.  Gold  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  manufacture  of  shingles  in  place  of  pegs,  and  continued 
the  business,  after  leaving  the  shop  on  Pergy  brook,  in  the  south 
part  of  the  town,  using  steam  power.  Stephen  Fairbanks  and  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Briggs  were  also  associated  together  in  building  or 
running  a  sawmill  a  little  farther  down  the  Pergy  brook  in  a  deep 
ravine  and  south  of  David  Shores's  sawmill,  where  there  is  much  fall 


240  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

to  the  brook  over  the  ledges  of  rocks ;  this  was  probably  sixty  or 
more  years  ago.  Mr.  Fairbanks  finally  became  discontented  with  his 
surroundings  and  conditions,  and  built  himself  a  covered  wagon  in 
which  he  and  his  family  journeyed  to  the  West,  camping  where  night 
■overtook  them,  sleeping  in  the  covered  wagon. 

Farther  up  Pergy  brook  the  foundations  of  a  mill  were  to  be  seen 
sixty  or  seventy  years  ago  and  it  is  said  that  there  was  a  gristmill 
there  once,  but  who  the  owner  was  we  have  been  unable  to  learn,  as 
no  one  seems  to  remember  seeing  a  mill  there,  but  it  is  said  that 
some  of  the  foundation  timbers  are  still  to  be  seen  in  the  bed  of  the 
brook. 

Other  Land  Set  Apart  for  a  Mill. 

"No  32  Is  a  Home  Lott  Laid  out  to  William  Johnson  Jun  Iny^ 
Lisburn  Propriety  &  it  Lays  in  the  Second  Range  &  Lays  Quantity 
for  Quality  Containing  one  Hundred  acres  it  bounds  S  :  on  third 
Division  No.  57  partly  &  partly  on  third  Division  No.  58  partly  & 
partly  on  Undivided  Land  F.  on  third  Division  59  &  W  :  on  third 
Division  58  the  S.  \V.  corner  to  a  stake  &  stones — from  thence  it 
Runs  N.  120  I^erch  to  a  stake  and  Stones  from  thence  it  runs  F.  200 
Perch  to  a  Whiteoak  Staddle  and  Stones,  from  thence  it  runs  S  :  102 
perch  to  a  White  Oak  Tree,  from  thence  W.  88  Perch  to  a  Stake  & 
Stones  from  thence  it  runs  S.  91  Perch  to  a  White  Oak  Tree  &  from 
thence  to  y''  corner  first  mentioned, — A  highway  of  2  Perch  Wide  to 
be  allowed  out  of  the  N.  side  of  ye  range  line  Running  through  said 
Lott&  is  allowed  five  acres  more  adjoining  y  F.  Fnd  of  said  Lott 
for  a  Mill  place  viz  for  land  to  build  a  Mill  on  for  a  mill  yard  &  for 
Pond  room  Said  Mill  place  Begins  at  a  \\'hite  Oak  Tree  being  the 
N.  E.  of  Said  Lott  Runns  from  thence  F  15  Deg  N  31  Perch  to  a 
White  Pine  tree  from  thence  In  such  form  as  ye  Water  Raised  by  a 
Dam  shall  flow  the  N  :  Bounds  of  said  Mill  place  to  Run  4  Perch 
north  from  the  Brook  and  as  far  E.  As  shall  include  s'"  five  Acres.  " 
Another  lot  of  50  acres  under  No.  32  and  situated  in  Fast  Hollow 
went  with  the  above  described  No.  32. 

The  five  acres  of  land  allowed  to  William  Johnson,  who  drew 
Home  lot  No.  32  in  the  west  part  of  the  town  for  "  to  build  a  mill, 
Mill  yard  and  for  pond  room  "'  was  upon  the  stream  now  known  as 
Amethyst  brook  and  from  which  water  is  now  taken  by  the  Amherst 
Water  Company  to  supply  Amherst  with  pure  water. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  241 

This  five  acres  of  land,  set  apart  for  a  mill  is  250  rods  east  from 
the  west  line  of  the  town  and  must  have  been  the  jDoint  in  the  ravine 
a  little  way  up  the  stream  from  the  mineral  springs  on  the  Orient 
grounds,  so  called,  now  owned  by  Mr.  Fred  Pitman  of  Washington, 
D.  C.  At  this  point  early  in  this  century  there  was  a  mill  or  shop 
owned  by  Isaac  Otis  for  the  manufacture  of  scythes  and  there  was  a 
small  foundry  connected,  where  small  cast  iron  articles  for  household 
use  were  turned  out.  The  approach  to  this  mill  site  was  by  a  road 
from  the  County  highway,  starting  opposite  the  West  Pelham  bury- 
ing ground  near  the  residence  of  Edwin  Shaw,  traces  of  which  are 
still  to  be  seen,  and  another  approach  was  from  the  Valley  road  some 
distance  east  of  the  Valley  bridge  over  the  Amethyst  brook.  This 
shop  or  mill  was  washed  away  in  the  great  freshet  of  1828,  and  the 
grindstone  used  there  was  found  25  years  afterwards  far  down  the 
stream  by  Edmund  Myrick  and  Horace  Gray. 

Just  the  date  of  the  development  of  the  power  of  Amethyst  brook 
at  the  site  of  the  Fishing  Rod  factory  and  at  the  mill  of  Lewis  W. 
Allen,  a  few  rods  below,  is  not  certainly  determined  by  any  data 
that  is  accessible.  On  the  site  now  occupied  by  L.  W.  Allen's  saw 
mill  and  shop  there  has  been  a  saw  mill  since  1805  and  perhaps 
before  that  time. 

September  30,  1S05,  Nathan  Jillson  purchased  of  Dea.  Nathaniel 
Sampson  the  farm  known  for  many  recent  years  as  the  Rev.  John 
Jones  farm.  His  two  sons  Riley  and  Amasa  were  mechanics,  as 
was  also  the  father.  The  Jillson s  owned  the  two  mills,  a  sawmill 
where  L.  W.  Allen  now  owns,  and  a  small  gristmill  at  the  privilege 
now  occupied  by  the  Montague  City  Rod  company.  The  first  grist- 
mill was  near  the  north  end  of  the  dam  of  the  Fishing  Rod  company, 
and  the  water  was  brought  in  a  canal  from  a  small  clam  farther  up  the 
stream. 

Riley  Jillson  built  a  gristmill  on  the  site  of  the  Fishing  Rod 
factory  in  1S20,  and  the  two  brothers  carried  on  the  gristmill  and 
the  sawmill  farther  down  in  company.  Horace  Gray  came  into  pos- 
session of  Amasa  Jillson's  half  of  the  property  60  years  or  more  ago, 
owning  one-half  of  each  mill,  exchanged  his  half  of  the  gristmill  for 
Riley  Jillson's  half  of  the  sawmill.  About  the  year  1858,  Mr.  Gray,  with 
his  son  C.  D.  Grav,  started  manufacturing  of  fishing  rods  in  a  small 
way.  The  sawmill  and  shop  at  the  lower  privilege  were  burned  in 
1S51,  and  Gray  rebuilt.      About  i860  he  sold  his  sawmill  to  Andrew 


242  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Mitchell  and  purchased  the  upper  privilege.  Mitchell  died  and  Darius 
Eaton  was  the  next  owner.  Eaton  sold  to  L.  W.  Allen  the  present 
owner.  Riley  Jillson,  the  original  owner  of  the  gristmill,  sold  to  Robert 
Cutler  in  1845  ;  Cutler  added  a  sawmill,  ran  them  both  several  years 
and  sold  to  Buffum  &  Ward  ;  this  firm  sold  to  Mr.  Anthony  and  he 
sold  to  William  Johnson,  and  the  latter  to  a  man  in  Palmer.  Gray 
&  Son  then  purchased  this  mill.  I'hev  increased  the  fishing  rod 
business  greatly  ;  C.  I).  Gray  died  in  1873  and  the  business  was  sold 
to  Ward  &  Latham.  Latham  dropped  out  of  the  firm,  and  Joseph  G. 
Ward  was  sole  owner  for  some  time.  Leander  L.  and  Eugene  P, 
Eartlett  were  the  next  owners  of  the  business.  Leander  L.  sold  to 
Eugene  P.,  and  in  1889  the  Montague  City  Rod  Company  became 
the  proprietors  of  the  flourishing  business,  and  from  their  three  fact- 
ories at  Montague  City  and  Pelham,  Mass.,  and  Post  Mills,  Vt.,  turn 
out  three-fourths  of  all  the  goods  that  go  into  the  market.  The  Pel- 
ham  branch  of  the  Montague  City  Rod  Company  is  in  charge  of 
Eugene  P.  Bartlett  as  manager,  and  in  good  times  perhaps  forty 
hands  d,ve  employed  in  manufacturing  split  bamboo  fishing  rods  that 
go  to  all  parts  of  this  country  and  to  Europe.  Besides  the  split 
bamboo  rods,  which  are  made  from  bamboo  poles  imported  from 
Calcutta  and  Japan,  fine  lancewood  fishing  rods  are  made.  Three 
hundred  different  patterns  and  styles  are  included  in  their  catalogue, 
from  the  fancy  fly  rod  of  a  few  ounces  in  weight  to  the  heavy  and 
strong  rods  for  salt  water  fishermen. 

About  the  year  1808,  John  I^armenter  set  up  a  carding  machine  in 
a  building  back  of  the  sawmill,  now  owned  by  L.  W.  Allen,  where 
the  farmers  from  this  and  neighboring  town  brought  their  wool  to  be 
carded  into  rolls  for  spinning  on  the  large  spinning  wheels  by  the 
great  open  fire-places  in  the  farmers'  kitchens  by  the  skillful  fingers 
of  the  wives  and  daughters,  and  after  spinning  into  yarn '  it  was 
woven  into  cloth,  bed-blankets  and  the  like.  Connected  with  the 
business  was  a  fulling  and  dyeing  department  where  yarn  was  colored 
and  cloth  dyed  and  fulled  for  use. 

Some  insight  into  the  business  and  the  manner  of  conducting  it  is 
gathered  from  an  old  ledger  in  use  at  that  time  indicates  that  the 
carding  and  dyeing  was  paid  for  mostly  in  farm  produce  or  labor. 


K 


^ 


DAM    AT    FISHIXf;    ROD   FACTORY 


MONTAGUE    CITY    FISHING   ROD   FACTORV. 


mills,  manufacturies,  etc.  243 

The  Old  Carding  Machine. 

SCRAPS  FROM  the  OLD  LEDGER. 

Dr.  Robert  ("utler  w  as  credited  with  95  cents  worth  of  salt  pork 
and  $1.42  in  cash  July  29,  1808  ;  showing  that  the  Doctor  had  both 
pork  and  cash  to  spare.  Captain  Calvin  Merrill  was  allowed  $1.00 
for  I  Gallon  Cider  Brandy,  and  $2.00  cash  for  "2  Knapt  Hats,"  in 
July,  1809.  Simeon  Pomroy  has  the  following  credit :  Sept.  24,  1810, 
"  By  5  days  labor  on  the  dam  $3.33  ;"  Not  very  heavy  wages  for 
laborious  work,  repairing  a  mill  dam.  Andrew  Hyde  was  credited 
$2.01  for  three  days  work  on  dam,  showing  that  67  cents  was  con- 
sidered fair  pay  for  a  day's  work.  The  account  with  Rev.  David 
Parsons  was  opened  in  August,  1808  and  was  closed  in  1814  by  a 
cash  payment  of  $2.44.  David  Pomroy  has  the  following  credit, 
Nov.  23,  1812,  "By  fifty  lb.  of  Beef  at  four  Dollars  per  Hundred, — 
^2.00."  Gen.  Ebenezer  Mattoon  brought  the  wool  from  his  fiock  of 
sheep  to  the  carding  machine  firm  from  1808  to  18 17,  paying  nothing 
but  cash. 

The  following  credits  and  prices  carried  out,  taken  here  and  there 
without  regarding  names  give  an  idea  of  workingman's  wages  and 
value  of  farm  products  : 

By  16  Pounds  Sugar  at  12  1-2  cts.    2.00 

"  One  Sheep,  3S  pounds,  2.00 

"  I  Days  Work  .54 

"  I  Bushel  of  Turnips  .25 

"  7  pounds  Veal  at  4  cts.  .28 

"  Horse  to  Hatfield,  g  miles,  .36 

"  6  1-2  Bushels  potatoes  at  23  1.98 

"  14  1-2  Skim  cheese  at  7  .87 

"  7  lbs  Salt  Pork  at  10  .70 

"  3  yds  Cotton  Cloth  at  25  .75 

"  4  lbs  Butter  at  12  1-2  .50 

Seventy-five  years  and  more  ago  there  was  a  sawmill  in  the  ravine 
where  the  lower  reservoir  of  the  Amherst  Water  Company  is  located, 
owned  by  Savannah  Arnold.  The  site  of  the  stone  dam  of  the  Com- 
pany is  nearly  identical  with  the  dam  that  supplied  the  water  for 
Arnold's  sawmill  located  a  few  rods  farther  down  the  stream,  the 
remains  of  the  canal  or  raceway  being  still  visible.  The  first  mill 
was  burned  and  John  and  Collins  Brailey  built  another  on  nearly 
the  same  site. 

Access  to  Arnold's  and  Brailey's  mill  was  by  a  cart-road  to  the 
county  highway  near  the  residence  of    James    Haskins,  and   another 


1810  By  13  1-2  pounds  veal 

•53c 

1S22 

1811 

"  2  1-2  Bushels  oats  at  34 

.86 

1S22 

180S 

"  3  Cords  40  ft.  of  wood  at  51.17 

$3.87 

1S22 

180S 

"  Setting  two  horses  shoes 

•  17 

1S23 

180S 

"  Killing  calf 

■17 

1822 

1811 

"  12  pounds  butter  at  12  1-2  cts  lb 

1.50 

1817 

1812 

"  Horse  to  \A'hately  (10  miles) 

.40 

1S20 

1813 

"  I  hoe 

•S3 

1S22 

1813 

'•  4  Brooms  (Corn) 

.50 

1824 

1815 

'■  2  Bushels  corn 

2.00 

1S22 

181S 

"  2  yards  cotton  cloth  2-9 

.92 

1826 

1820 

"  2  1-4  lbs  Butter 

.22 

244  HISTORY    OF    PRLHAM,     MASS. 

cart-road  that   crossed  the  brook  by  a  bridge  and  came  out  on  the 
valley  side  of    the  brook. 

At  the  head  of  the  pond  that  held  water  for  the  Brailey  sawmill 
Amethyst  brook  divides,  or  rather  the  two  brooks  that  unite  to  form 
Amethyst  brook,  come  together.  One  comes  from  the  northeast  and 
the  other  brings  water  from  the  watershed  southeasterly  from  the 
point  of  union  ;  on  the  brook  that  comes  from  the  northeast,  high  up 
on  the  hillside  there  was  an  old  sawmill  on  the  farm  purchased  by 
Eseck  Cook  in  1807,  and  in  later  years  it  was  rebuilt  in  modern  style, 
but  the  scarcity  of  timber  and  the  introduction  of  the  portable  mill 
rendered  the  investment  worthless,  and  the  mill  was  allowed  to  go  to 
decay, — time  and  the  elements  have  nearly  completed  their  work  and 
it  will  not  be  long  before  not  a  vestige  will  be  left.  Owners  follow- 
ing Eseck  Cook  were  his  sons,  Nathaniel  and  Lewis  Cook  ;  then  it 
came  into  the  hands  of  Smith  M.  Cook  and  Asa  Ober,  but  no  busi- 
ness has  been  done  there  for  years.  It  is  probable  that  this 
was  the  site  of  Turner's  sawmill  described  as  "  on  the  road  from  Pel- 
ham  to  Leverett." 

On  the  branch  of  Amethyst  brook  that  comes  from  the  southeast 
there  was  at  one  time  a  turning  shop,  situated  a  short  distance  above 
where  the  two  branches  join  to  make  Amethyst  brook.  It  was 
owned  by  Ezra  Brown,  who  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  turnpike 
near  the  Amherst  Water  Company's  new  reservoir,  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  John  Hawley.  At  the  turning  shop  Mr.  Brown  used  to 
split  out  his  timber  and  turn  faucets.  These  he  would  take  to  Rhode 
Island  and  sell  or  exchange  for  cotton  yarn. 

Bringing  home  the  yarn  he  would  then  sell  it  to  the  farmers,  and 
the  farmers'  wives  wove  it  into  cloth  for  their  families  on  hand 
looms.  Mr.  Brown  built  a  new  shop  nearer  his  home,  on  the  road 
accepted  by  the  town  in  1828  and  leading  across  the  ravine  to 
George  Buffum's  and  is  described  as  "leaving  the  turnpike  near 
Ezra  Brown's  new  shop."  In  this  shop  Mr.  l^rown  probably  made 
the  coffins,  which  he  sold  to  the  people  when  needed.  These  coffins 
he  stained  a  bright  red  color  which  was  the  custom  or  fashion  at 
that  time. 

Near  the  location  of  Ezra  Brown's  new  shop  W.  J.  Harris  built  a 
mill  or  shop  for  mechanical  purposes  in  1875,  where  he  carried  on  a 
small  business  for  several  years  and  then  sold  out  to  the  Amherst 
Water  Company,  as  the  site  for  their  upper  reservoir,  in    1892. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  245 

Sixty  years  or  more  ago  Thomas  ButTum  and  Levi  Hall  built  a 
stone  dam  and  sawmill  on  a  small  rivulet  that  finds  its  way  down 
from  the  high  lands  northeast  of  the  valley  and  crosses  the  highway 
near  the  old  Buffum  homestead,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  John 
A.  Page.  The  mill  was  quite  a  distance  north  of  the  Buffum  place, 
and  was  run  but  a  few  years.  The  remains  of  the  old  dam  are  visi- 
ble by  the  roadside  now. 

About  iSoo  Oliver  Smith  built  a  dam  on  the  head  waters  of  the 
small  brook  that  comes  down  from  the  base  of  Mt.  Lincoln  and  flow- 
ing south  finds  its  way  into  Hop  brook  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Dwight,  or  Pansy  Park,  and  erected  a  small  turning  shop  on  the 
county  road  leading  from  the  Methodist  church  at  West  Pelham  to 
Enfield.  A  small  business  was  done  at  this  shop  for  years  after 
Oliver  Smith  passed  away  and  the  farm  on  which  it  stood  came  into 
the  possession  of  Arba  Randall.  John  Lyman,  who  lived  near  the 
shop  used  it  for  building  wagon  wheels,  turning  the  hubs  in  the 
lathe. 

Later  the  building  was  taken  down  and  removed.  The  old  dam 
remains  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway,  and  the  shop  stood  on  the 
same  side  of  the  roadway.  Persons  passing  along  the  roadway  now 
can  scarcely  hear  any  sound  of  running  water,  so  little  of  it  coming 
down  now  from  the  hillside  above,  that  one  wonders  how  enough 
could  be  obtained  to  drive  even  a  turning  lathe. 

Manufacture  of  Charcoal. 

The  burning  of  wood  into  charcoal  or  "coaling  "  as  the  business 
was  termed  has  been  carried  on  in  a  small  way  by  individuals  here 
and  there  about  the  town  for  many  years.  The  usual  practice  was  to 
pile  up  ten,  fifteen  or  more  cords  of  four  foot  wood  into  a  cone  shaped 
mass,  cover  it  with  earth  and  turf  except  an  opening  at  the  apex. 
Fire  was  then  applied  at  the  base  and  the  work  of  the  fire  care- 
fully watched  night  and  day  for  a  week  or  ten  days  until  the  fire  had 
charred  the  wood  completely.  Then  the  charcoal  burner  loaded  up 
a  wagon,  fitted  with  high  side  and  end  boards,  with  perhaps  an 
hundred  bushels  of  coal  and  with  horse  or  ox  team  drew  his  load  to 
Amherst  or  Northampton  and  peddled  the  coal  from  house  to  house. 

In  1862  David  Shores  began  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  at  the 
"  Hollow "  on  a  larger  scale,  than  the  ancient  method  described 
above.      He  built  large  ovens  or  kilns  of  brick  large  enough  to  hold 


246  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

many  cords  of  wood.  When  an  oven  is  filled  iron  doors  shut  the 
wood  in,  only  sufficient  openings  are  left  for  draft,  when  the  kiln  is 
fired.  These  ovens  require  constant  watching  day  and  night  just  the 
same  as  the  earth  covered  coal  pit.  Mr.  Shores  has  three  of  these 
ovens  and  manufactures  from  50,000  to  150,000  bushels  annually 
according  to  the  demand. 

The  charcoal  is  marketed  at  Springfield  and  Chicopee  mostly.  It 
is  drawn  to  Enfield  by  horses  and  loaded  upon  cars, — and  on  its 
arrival  at  Springfield  the  coal  is  distributed  to  the  various  large  man- 
ufacturers, such  as  Smith  &  \^'esson,  the  U.  S.  Armory  and  the  large 
hotels. 

Mr.  Shores  has  purchased  woodland  from  time  to  time  to  supply 
wood  for  his  ovens,  until  he  is  the  owner  of  1000  to  1200  acres. 
Land  that  he  cut  the  wood  from  when  he  first  began  business  has 
grown  another  covering  of  wood  large  enough  for  railroad  ties  or  for 
wood  to  turn  into  charcoal. 

In  1870  Mr.  Shores  built  a  sawmill  on  Pergy  brook  to  saw  the 
large  trees  into  lumber.  This  sawmill  is  the  last  one  erected  in  town 
and  is  a  circular  sawmill  with  the  latest  improvements,  and  is  located 
not  far  from  his  residence  and  charcoal  ovens. 

Stone  Quarries. 

The  business  of  quarrying  stone  for  building  purposes  has  been 
carried  on  for  more  than  75  years  ;  just  the  time  when  the  work  began 
is  not  fixed.  A  Mr.  Kimball  from  Amherst  was  one  of  the  first  in 
this  line  of  business.  Thomas  Buffum  began  quarrying  on  a  ledge 
on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  Buffum's  to  Abijah 
Fales',  when  he  was  17  years  old  in  1S27.  Stones  from  this  quarry 
were  easily  cut  and  hanuuered. 

Abijah  h'ales  opened  a  quarry  near  his  house.  John  and  William 
Harkness  owned  a  quarry  half  a  mile  or  more  east  of  the  Methodist 
church,  now  owned  by  George  P.  Shaw. 

The  largest  quarry  and  the  one  from  which  the  most  stone  has 
been  taken  is  on  the  farm  best  known  as  the  Joseph  G.  Ward  farm. 
Ward  followed  Levi  Hall  as  proprietor  of  the  farm,  and  "  Cooper  " 
John  Gray  was  the  owner  before  Hall. 

The  first  work  upon  this  quarry  of  any  magnitude  was  in  1820 
when   the    college    buildings   at   Amherst   were    begun.     John    Gray 


THF,    VALLEY    STOXL    OUAKKV 


POURWAV    OF    THi;    A.Mlli:LM     WATER    CO.  S    RESERVOIR. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  '  247 

owned  the  ledge  or  quarry  at  that  time  and  he  got  out  cut  stones  for 
steps  and  other  uses  about  the  buildings. 

From  the  quarry  on  this  farm  a  great  many  stone  have  been  drawn 
by  team  to  Springfield,  Northampton,  Easthampton,  Ware  and 
Amherst  for  use  as  window  sills  and  caps, — hammered  stones  for 
steps  and  other  purposes,  and  building  stone  for  use  in  factories  and 
public  buildings.  Flavel  Gaylord  of  Amherst  now  owns  the  farm 
and  quarry. 

There  have  been  great  quantities  of  rough  stone  gathered  in  the 
pastures  and  drawn  to  Amherst  for  cellar  walls,  and  the  demand  con- 
tinues. The  farmers  thereby  clear  their  fields  of  stone  and  get  pay 
for  their  labor.  They  also  get  out  railroad  ties  for  which  they  find 
ready  sale  to  the  railroads.  Quantities  of  cord  wood  are  cut  and 
drawn  to  Amherst  market.  Wood  prepared  for  the  stove  is  also 
drawn  to  Amherst.  W.  Orcutt  Clough  has  been  in  the  business  19 
years,  and  has  drawn  8000  one  horse  loads,  all  with  the  same  horse. 
John  L.  Brewer  and  others  are  in  the  business. 

Mlscellaneous  Manufacturing. 

Horace  Gray  in  connection  with  his  business  of  sawing  logs  into 
lumber  used  to  do  quite  a  business  in  turning  bedsteads  and  making 
hand  screws  of  wood,  previous  to  the  burning  of  his  mill  in  185  i. 

About  1S40,  Daniel  Purrington  built  a  machine  for  sawing  shoe 
lasts  on  the  principal  of  the  Bkanchard  Lathe  and  ran  it  in  an  annex 
to  the  gristmill  of  his  father-in-law,  Riley  Jillson,  for  some  years. 

'•Tanner''  John  Gray  had  a  tannery  on  his  farm  in  the  valley, 
many  years  ago  and  the  location  of  the  vats  can  be  seen  still  on  the 
farm  of  Levi  Moulton. 

Obadiah  Cooley  was  a  distiller,  and  his  distillery  was  situated  near 
the  highway  half  a  mile  east  of  the  center  of  the  town  on  the  way  to 
the  hollow. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  century  Solo'mon  Fletcher  had  a  tan  yard, 
curry  shop,  bark  house  and  beaming  house,  standing  on  land  of 
Robert  Crossett  in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  He  sold  to  Benjamin 
Dix  in  1S02. 

John  Parmenter  made  ploughs  for  use  in  Pelham  and  the  neigh- 
boring towns  in  a  small  shop  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  and  about 
the  year  1840  contracted  to  build  some  that  were  shipped  to  Illinois. 

John  Harkness  and  his  sons  used  to  purchase  French  burr  stone 


•248  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

in  the  blocks  as  shipped  to  this  country  and  made  sets  of  mill 
.stones  for  grinding  grain,  selling  them  on  orders  about  the  country 
and  placing  them  in  the  mills  ready  for  use.  'I'hey  quit  the  business 
previous  to  1850. 

Barney  T.  Wetherell  and  Job  S.  Miller  did  quite  a  business  at  one 
time  cutting  out  staves  for  hogsheads.  Their  place  of  business  was 
at  Pelham  center. 

Inn  Keepers  and  Retailers. 

Intoxicating  liquors  were  in  common  use  as  a  beverage  among  the 
people  generally  all  through  the  county  and  state  at  the  time  this 
town  was  settled.  Sylvester  Judd  the  historian  of  Hadley  says,  "the 
drinks  of  the  early  days  were  wines  of  several  kinds,  sack,  beer,  ale 
and  strong  water  or  aquavitae, — consisting  of  brandy  distilled  from 
wine  and  a  liquor  distilled  from  malt  ;"' — but  wine  and  beer  were  the 
principal  drinks  until  rum  was  brought  from  the  West  Indies.  It 
was  sometimes  called  "  Kill  Devil  or  Barbadoes  liquor."  The  set- 
tlers of  Hadley  planted  apple  trees  early  after  the  settlement  of  the 
town  in  1659  ^^^'^  cider  was  made  as  early  as  1677.  They  pounded 
the  apples  in  troughs  as  was  the  custom  in  England.  There  is  no 
record  of  cider  mills  in  New  England  previous  to  1700.  Cider 
became  in  great  demand  for  distillation  into  cider  brandy,  and  apple 
orchards  became  numerous  in  Hampshue  county  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolution  and  the  people  of  Pelham  were  in  the  front  rank  in  the 
apple  orchard  industry. 

The  returns  of  the  assessors  of  the  towns  of  Hadley,  South 
Hadley,  Amherst  and  Granby  for  the  year  1771  are  said  to  show 
that  there  was  an  average  of  four  and  one-half  barrels  of  cider  for 
each  family  produced  that  year,  and  Pelham  is  said  to  have  made 
more  cider  that  year  than  either  of  the  four  towns  named.  Cider 
mills  were  common  and  there  was  probably  distilleries  for  turning 
cider  into  brandy  in  the  town.  One  such  institution  of  that  sort  is 
.said  to  have  been  located  in  West  Pelham  near  the  house  of  E.  P. 
Bartlett.  The  lot  on  which  it  stood  was  known  for  years  as  the  "  Still 
Pasture,"  and  a  depression  in  the  ground  in  that  pasture  has  been 
pointed  out  as  the  cellar  or  basement  of  the  distillery.  \Mio  owned 
the  distillery  cannot  now  be  determined.  Obadiah  Cooley  had  a 
■distillery  half  a  mile  east  of  the  center  of  the  town. 

The  use  of  liquors  as  a  beverage  by  all.   and   the  need   of   some 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC. 


2  49' 


place  in  town  to  entertain  travelers  on  horseback  journeying  through 
the  place  caused  the  application  to  the   country  courts  for  license  as 
taverners  and  common  victualers,  and  the  first  licensed  inn-holder  in 
Pelham  was  Thomas  Dick,  and  his  license  was  granted  in 
1749,  and  reads  substantially  as  follows  on  the  court  record  : 

"  License  is  Granted  to  Thomas  Dick  of  Pelham  to  be  an  inn- 
holder  and  Taverner  and  Common  Victualler  in  s''  town  for  the  year 
ensuing  for  Selling  Strong  Liquors  by  Retail." 

Thomas  Dick  continued  to  be  licensed  as  innholder  every  year 
following  1749  until  176S,  according  to  the  records  at  Northampton  ; 
but  an  auction  bill,  dated  Feb.  20,  1770,  advertized  a  sale  at  the 
house  of  Thomas  Dick,  innholder. 

In  1763  Thomas  Dick  was  licensed  to  sell  "Tea,  Coffee  and  China 
ware  out  of  his  house  In  Pelham.  The  said  Thomas  to  render  the 
accounts  and  pay  the  duties  required  by  the  law  of  this  Province." 

The  above  license  seems  to  indicate  that  Dick  added  to  the  busi- 
ness of  merchant  to  that  of  innholder  and  furnished  the  common 
necessities  of  life  for  his  fellow  townsmen. 

The  location  of  Landlord  Dicks'  tavern  cannot  be  determined  with 
certainty.  It  is  claimed  that  it  was  a  mile  west  of  the  center  of  the 
town  at  the  fork  of  the  roads,  and  that  the  house  now  owned  by 
William  ( ).  Kimball  was  the  site  and  perhaps  a  part  of  the  old 
tavern.  But  a  reference  to  the  plan  of  the  town  shows  that  Thomas 
Dick's  land  was  all  on  the  east  side  of  the  West  Branch,  as  drawn  by 
lot.  Thomas  Dick  purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  Martha  Gilmore  in 
1758 — a  part  of  lot  No.  6,  second  division,  in  range  4, — this  was 
near  where  some  say  his  tavern  was  located.  Thomas  Dick  died  in 
1774.  In  1795  a  Thomas  Dick,  probably  a  son  of  the  original 
Thomas,  transferred  lands  to  Margaret  Dick,  which  he  described  as 
"  tlie  farm  on  which  I  now  live — bounded  westerly  on  lands  of" 
Thomas  Hincks  and  Benoni  Shirtlieff — Northerly  on  range  line — 
Easterly  on  the  Cross  Road — and  Southerly  on  county  road  and  by 
the  Meeting  house  lot  and  burying  ground."  This  is  a  complete 
description  of  home  lot  No.  50,  originally  drawn  by  John  Fergerson. 
Possibly  Thomas  Dick,  the  original  settler,  purchased  Fergerson's 
land  and  kept  a  tavern  there, — and  the  son  Thomas  was  an  inn- 
holder on  the  same  farm  in  1784. 

1772,  William  Conkey,  senior,  was  licensed  as  innholder.  The 
license  being  more  particular  in  its  terms  than  that  first  issue  to 
Thomas  Dick,  and  reads  as  follows  : 


250  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

"  William  Conkey  of  Pelham  is  licensed  to  be  an  Innholder 
Retailer  and  Common  Victualer  in  his  dwelling  house  there  for  one 
year  next  ensuing  and  the  same  William  now  here  in  court  recognizes 
to  ye  Lord  the  King  as  principal  in  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  and 
Messrs.  Curtis  Loomis  of  Southampton  and  Eli  Parker  of  Amherst 
also  came  here  and  as  sureties  for  the  said  William  annexed  to  ye 
Reconysaizance  prescribed  for  Innholders  by  act  or  law  of  this 
Province  in  such  cases  made  and  provided  entitled  an  act  for  the 
Inspecting  and   suppressing  of  Disorders   in  licensed   Houses  etc." 

1773,  William  Conkey  was  a  licensed  innholder. 

During  the  years  from  1774  to  1778,  there  was  an  intermission  or 
suspension  of  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  the  county  of 
Hampshire  and  consequently  no  records  of  licenses  granted  for  those 
years,  if  they  were  granted  :  possibly  those  already  licensed  was  suf- 
ficient to  continue  as  innholders  during  those  years.  Licensed  inn- 
holders  for  the  year  1778  were  John  Cole,  Christopher  Patten  and 
Nehemiah  Hinds  ;  and  Robert  Ormston.  John  Cole  and  James  Lind- 
sley  received  retailers  license.  1779,  David  Sloan.  William  Conkey, 
John  Cole  and  Nehemiah  Hinds  were  innholders  and  Asa  Conkey, 
Andrew  Abercrombie,  Robert  Ormston  and  Nathan  Felton  were 
retailers. 

Robert  Ormston  was  a  merchant  and  it  is  possible  that  Felton  was 
in  the  same  business,  as  it  was  the  custom  for  all  country  merchants 
or  grocers  to  keep  liquors  to  sell  to  their  customers  and  to  treat 
good  customers  to  a  drink  now  and  then. 

1780.  Innholders,  David  Sloan,  William  Conkey  and  Samuel 
Sampson.      Retailers,  Andrew  Abercrombie  and  Henry  McColloch. 

1 78 1.  Innholder,  John  Bruce.  Retailers,  Alexander  Parry  and 
Nathaniel  Sampson. 

1782.  Innholder,  Samuel  Sampson.  Retailer,  Nathaniel  Samp- 
son.    The  Sampsons  seemed  to  have  a  monopoly  that  year. 

1783.  Innholders,  Samuel  Sampson,  William  Conkey,  John 
Bruce,  Nehemiah  Hinds.  Retailers,  John  Conkey,  jun.,  Alexander 
Barry,  Nathan  Rankin. 

The  license  of  Landlord  Bruce  reads  as  follow;  "John  Bruce  of 
Pelham  is  licensed  to  be  an  innholder  in  his  house  there  for  the  year 
next  ensuing  &  Samuel  Sampson  as  principal  in  behalf  of  said  John 
recognises  to  the  Commonwealth  in  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  with 
sureties,  viz.,  William  Conkey   and   John  Conkey  jun.,    in  the  sum  of 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  25 1 

;^2  5  each  to  keep  good  rule  and  order  in  his  House  and  duly  observe 
the  laws  made  for  the  regulation  of  such  houses  and  also  to  keep  and 
render  the  accounts  and  pay  the  Duties  the  law  requires." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Bruce's  bondsmen  and  sureties  were  in  the 
same  business  and  probably  Bruce  reciprocated  the  favor  and  doubt- 
less his  name  could  be  found  as  bondsman  or  surety  for  some  of 
those  holding  licenses  that  year. 

1784.  Innholders,  William  Conkey,  John  Bruce,  Nehemiah  Hinds, 
Thomas  Dick.  Retailers,  Alexander  Barry,  John  Conkey,  jun., 
William  Ashley. 

1785.  Innholders,  John  Bruce,  Nehemiah  Hinds.  Retailers,  John 
Clark,  jun.,  Wm.  Ashley,  Elihu  Billings,  Ebenezer  Gray. 

1786.  No  record  of  innholder  or  retailers  this  year. 

1787.  Innholder,  Nehemiah  Hinds.     Retailer,  Wm.  Ashley. 

1788.  Innholder,  Benoni  Shurtleiff.  Retailers,  Wm.  Ashley,  John 
Conkey,  Isaac  Abercrombie. 

1789.  Innholder,  Nehemiah  Hinds.  Retailers,  Wm.  Ashley, 
John  Conkey. 

1790.  Innholder,  Benoni  Shurtlieff.  Retailers,  Wm.  Ashley,  John 
Conkey. 

1 79 1.  Innholders,  N.  Hinds,  John  Stickney,  Benoni  Shurtlieff. 
Retailers,  John  Conkey,  Nathaniel  Sampson. 

1792.  Innholders,  and  retailers  same  as  in  1791. 

1793.  Innholders,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Benoni  Shurtlieff.  Retailers, 
Luke  Montague,  Jacob  Packard,  John  Thompson,  jun.,  John  Stickney. 

1794.  Innholders,  John  Stewart  Parks,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  John 
Conkey,  Lebbeus  Howard.      Retailer.  Luke  Montague. 

1795.  Innholders,  John  Conkey,  N.Hinds.    No  retailers  recorded- 

1796.  Innholders,  John  Conkey,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  John  Cole. 
Retailer,  Asaph  Lyon. 

1797.  Innholders,  John  Cole,  Christopher  Patten,  Nehemiah 
Hinds.     Retailers,  Robert  Ormston,  David  Hannum,  Asaph  Lyon. 

1798.  Innholders,  John  Cole,  C.  Patten,  N.  Hinds.  Retailers, 
Robert  Ormston,  John  Cole,  James  Lindsley. 

1799.  Innholders.  John  Cole,  Nehemiah  Hinds.  Retailers, 
Robert  Ormston,  Nathan  Felton. 

1800.  Innholders,  Christopher  Patten,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Harris 
Hatch.     Retailers,  Robert  Ormston,    Nathan  Felton. 


252  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

1 80 1.  Innholders,  Harris  Hatch,  Nehemiah  Hinds.  Retailers, 
Robert  Ormston,  Harris  Hatcli,  Natlian  Felton. 

1802.  Innholders,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Harris  Hatch,  John  Rich- 
ardson. Retailers,  Nathan  Felton,  Harris  Hatch,  John  Richardson, 
John  Conkey. 

1803.  Innholders,  Harris  Hatch,  Joseph  W.  Hamilton,  N.  Hinds, 
Retailers,  Robert  Ormston,  John  Conkey,  Nathan  Felton. 

1804.  Innholders,  Harris  Hatch,  Joseph  W.  Hamilton.  Retail- 
ers, Nathan  Felton,  John  Conkey,  Robert  Ormston. 

1805.  Innholders,  Harris  Hatch,  Joseph  W.  Hamilton.  Retailers, 
John  Conkey,  Nathan  Felton. 

1806.  Innholders,  Joseph  W.  Hamilton,  Walter  Eaton.  Retail- 
er, Marston  Eaton. 

1807.  Innholders,  Walter  Eaton,  Chelles  Keep.  Retailers, 
Marston  Eaton,  Nathan  Titus,  Isaac  Conkey. 

1S08.  Innholder,  Walter  Eaton.  Retailers,  Marston  Eaton, 
Nathan  Felton. 

1809.  Innholder,  Walter  Eaton.      Retailer,  Marston  Eaton. 

1810.  Inholders,  Nathan  Felton.     Retailer,  Marston  Eaton. 

181 1.  Innholder,  Eliphaz  Packard.      Retailer,  Marston  Eaton. 

1812.  No  Innkeepers  License.  Retailers,  Marston  Eaton  Luther 
Chapin. 

18 13.  No  Innkeeper  Licensed.  Retailers,  Marston  Eaton,  Isaac 
Conkey. 

18 1 4.  Innkeepers,  William  Smith.  Amariah  Robbins.  Retailer, 
Marston  Eaton. 

1815.  Innkeepers,  Nathan  Felton,  Rebecca  Smith.  Retailers, 
Barna  Brigham,   Marston  Eaton. 

1816.  Innholder,  Nathan  Felton.  Retailers,  Stacy  Linzee, 
Barna  Brigham,  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Jr.,  Marston  Eaton. 

18 1 7.  Innholder,  Marston  Eaton.  Retailers,  Marston  Eaton, 
Stacy  Linzee,  Isaac  Abercrombie  Jr. 

18 18.  Innholder,  Nathan  Felton.  Retailers,  Packard  &  King- 
man, Isaac  Abercrombie,  Jr.,  Stacy  Linzee. 

18 19.  Innholder,  Stacy  Linzee.      No  Retailers. 

1820.  Innholders,  Martin  Kingman,  Nathan  Felton.  Retailers, 
Martin  Kingman,  Stacy  Linzee. 

182  I.     No  Innholders.     Retailers,  Martin  Kingman,  Stacy  Linzee. 
1822.     Innholder,  Martin  Kingman.     Retailer,  Martin   Kingman. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  253 

1823.  Innholder.  Martin  Kingman.  Retailers,  Martin  Kingman, 
Wells  Southworth. 

1824.  Innkeeper,  Martin  Kingman.  Retailers,  Abial  B.  Smith, 
Rufus  Southworth,  Martin  Kingman. 

1825.  Innkeeper,  Oliver  Bryant.  Retailers,  Rufus  Southworth, 
Martin  Kingman. 

1826.  Innkeeper.  Oliver  Bryant.  Retailers,  Martin  Kingman, 
Rufus  Southworth. 

1827.  Innkeeper,  Ralph  Kellogg.  Retailers,  Martin  Kingman, 
Bryant  &  Kingman. 

1828.  Innkeeper,  Ralph  Kellogg.  Retailers,  Martin  Kingman, 
Lewis  L.  Draper,  Bryant  &  Kingman. 

1829.  Innholders,  Martin  Kingman,  Ziba  Cook.  Retailers, 
Martin  Kingman,  Lewis  L.  Draper. 

1830.  Innholder,  Martin  Kingman,  Ziba  Cook.  Retailer,  Martin 
Kingman. 

183 1.  No  Innholder  licensed.  Retailers,  Lewis  L.  Draper, 
Martin  Kingman. 

1832.  Innholder,  Martin  Kingman,  center  of  the  town,  Ziba  Cook 
Southwest  part  of  the  town.  Retailers,  Martin  Kingman,  Lewis  L. 
Draper,  at  store  in  Southwest  part  of  the  town. 

1833.  Innkeeper,  Martin  Kingman.  Retailer,  Martin  Kingman, 
at  his  shop  center  of  the  town. 

1834.  Innkeeper,    Martin  Kingman,  Ziba  Cook.     No  Retailers. 

1835.  Innholders,  Martin  Kingman,  not  Licensed  to  sell  spirits. 
Ziba  Cook,  licensed  to  sell  spirits.     No  retailers. 

1836.  Innholders,  Martin  Kingman,  not  licensed  to  sell  spirits. 
No  retailers. 

1837.  Innholders,  Benjamin  Randall,  at  his  house  on  the  county 
road  from  Amherst  to  Enfield,   licensed  to  sell  spirits.     No  retailers.. 

1838.  Innholders,  Martin  Kingman,  licensed  to  sell  wine  at  his. 
old  stand  ;  Ziba  Cook,  licensed  on  application  of  the  selectmen  to. 
sell  wines,  beer,  ale,  but  not  distilled  spirits. 

1839.  Nathan  Weeks,  licensed  as  a  retailer  of  wines  and  fer- 
mented liquors,  at  the  store  formerly  occupied  by  Joel  Packard. 

1840-41.      Innholder,  Benjamin  Randall. 
i842-'43-'44.      Innholder,  Calvin  D.  Eaton. 
1845.      No  licensed   innholder. 
18 


254  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

i846-'47-'48.     Innholder,  Calvin  U.  Eaton. 

1849.  No  license  granted. 

1850.  William  Newell,  licensed  an  innholder  and  common  victu- 
aller at  his  dwelling  house  and  at  the  public  house  near  the  mineral 
springs  which  he  had  discovered  on  his  farm.  Calvin  I).  Eaton  was 
also  a  licensed  innholder  that  year. 

No  licenses  granted  from  185 1  to  1 86 1 .  Nor  any  of  record  from  the 
last  date  until  1890,  although  the  Orient  house  built  in  1861,  was  kept 
open  for  summer  guests  and  invalids  until  1881  when  it  was  burned.  In 
1890,  Theodore  F.  Cook  was  licensed  as  a  common  victualler  and 
opened  Hotel  Pelham  at  the  center  of  the  town,  and  has  run  the 
house  as  a  hotel  since  that  time  to  date. 

Merchants. 

It  is  probable  that  Thomas  Dick  was  the  first  merchant  as  well  as 
the  first  tavern  keeper,  as  in  addition  to  his  license  as  tavern  keeper 
in  1763,  he  was  "licensed  to  sell  Tea,  Coffee  and  China  Ware  out 
of  his  house  in  Pelham.  The  said  Thomas  to  render  the  accounts 
and  pay  the  duties  required  by  the  law  of  this  Province." 

Robert  Ormston  was  a  merchant  in  the  town  but  at  what  date  he 
opened  business  is  not  easy  to  determine.  He  was  a  licensed  retailer 
of  spirits,  first  in  1778,  and  as  most  of  the  grocers  were  retailers  of 
spirits  it  may  not  be  unfair  to  assume  that  John  Cole  and  James 
Lindsley  or  Linsey  and  Nathan  Felton,  who  were  also  licensed 
retailers  for  several  years,  may  have  been  small  dealers  in  groceries 
and  other  necessities,  having  stores  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 

Robert  Ormston  who  is  known  to  have  been  a  merchant,  continued 
to  appear  as  a  licensed  retailer  of  spirits  down  to  1804  as  did  Nathan 
Felton  and  John  Conkey.      Ormston's  store  was  on  the  \^'est  Hill. 

Marston  Eaton's  name  appears  the  year  after  Ormston's  ceases  to 
appear.  Eaton  was  a  merchant  and  Nathan  Felton  continued  to 
appear  as  a  retailer  down  to  1810.  Felton  resided  in  that  part  of 
Pelham  now  Prescott. 

Kingman  &:  Packard  were  in  company  for  a  year  or  more  from 
18 18  and  then  Martin  Kingman  was  merchant  and  retailer  at  the 
center  of  the  town.  Not  a  little  of  his  trade  is  said  to  have  come 
from  Amherst  people  who  came  out  to  Kingman's  store  for  bargains. 
Kingman   continued  in  the  business  of   merchant  and   tavern  keeper 


M.    E.    BOYXTOX  S    RESIDKXCE. 


TOMBSTONE    TO    MEMORY    OF    EDWARD    AND    ELIZABETH    SELFRIDCiE. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  255 

for  some  years.  He  closed  his  career  as  innholder  in  1838,  and 
probably  continued  as  a  merchant  well  down  to  that  time.  He  was 
a  capable  business  man  and  used  to  take  quantities  of  wood  in 
exchange  for  goods,  which  he  marketed  at  Amherst. 

In  1823  the  name  of  Wells  Southworth  appears  as  a  licensed 
retailer.  His  store  was  a  building  on  the  south  side  of  the  Com- 
mon, opposite  the  old  meeting  house  and  stands  near,  and  a  little 
west  of  Hotel  Pelham,  and  is  still  owned  by  the  Southworth  family. 
Rufus  Southworth  was  connected  with  the  business  for  several  years, 
keeping  the  goods  usually  sold  at  country  stores  in  those  days.  The 
last  license  to  Rufus  Southworth  as  retailer  was  issued  in  1826. 

Wells  Southworth  sold  out  his  store,  also  the  homestead  of  the 
family,  and  removed  to  South  Hadley  Falls  in  182 8  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business. 

A  syndicate,  consisting  of  Jared  T.  Westcott,  Cyrus  Kingman, 
Lyman  Jenks,  Dr.  I.  H.  Taylor,  Asa  Thompson,  Lemuel  C.  Wedge, 
Chancellor  Wheeler,  and  perhaps  others,  built  a  store  east  of  Martin 
Kingman's  tavern  and  store,  with  a  shop  in  the  upper  story  for 
•  making  shoes  about  the  year  1845.  and  Chancellor  Wheeler  con- 
ducted the  business  that  was  done  there,  the  business  having  been 
first  started  in  the  house  of  Lyman  Jenks,  which  has  since  been 
remodeled  into  Hotel  Pelham.  Wheeler  died  in  1850  and  \\'illiam 
Conkey,  son  of  Warren  Conkey,  succeeded  Wheeler.  Job  Miller  was 
the  next  proprietor  of  the  store,  and  was  followed  by  Enos  S.  Rich- 
ardson. Richardson  was  the  village  merchant  for  a  number  of  years 
or  until  1866  when  Myrett  E.  Boynton  purchased  Richardson's  inter- 
est and  continued  as  grocer  and  postmaster  in  the  same  building 
until  1895  when  it  was  burned,  and  another  and  better  store  was 
built.  Mr.  Boynton  continues  to  be  the  only  merchant  and  postmaster 
in  town. 

About  the  year  1828  Lewis  L.  Draper  opened  a  small  store  oppo- 
site where  the  Methodist  church  now  stands  at  West  Pelham,  in  a 
building  now  used  as  a  barn  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  just  west 
of  the  church.  Draper  was  licensed  as  a  retailer  of  spirits,  and  the 
last  year  his  name  appears  was  1832  when  he  was  licensed  "to  sell 
in  his  store  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town." 

Hardin  Hemmenway  of  Shutesbury  succeeded  Mr.  Draper,  and 
after  Hemmenway,   Elijah   Hills,   a  brother  of  Leonard   M.   Hills  of 


256  HISTORY    OF    PELHA.M,    MASS. 

Amherst,  occupied  the  store  and  dealt  in  pahii-Ieaf  hats,  taking  them 
in  exchange  for  goods. 

George  L.  Shaw,  a  son-in-law  of  Ziba  Cook,  was  in  business  at 
this  stand  for  a  short  time  and  then  the  store  was  closed. 

William  Barrows  and  Chester  Gaskell  reopened  the  store  formerly 
occupied  by  Lewis  L.  Draper  and  others  under  the  firm  name  of 
Barrows  &  Gaskell  in  1847  or  thereabouts,  and  put  out  split  palm- 
leaf  among  the  people  of  this  town  and  Shutesbury  to  be  braided 
into  palm-leaf  hats.  They  kept  groceries  and  some  dry-goods  to 
supply  their  customers.  The  firm  was  not  very  successful  and  closed 
the  business  after  running  about  a  year. 

In  1853  or  '54  Chester  Gaskell  went  in  company  with  Warren  C. 
Wedge  in  a  building  forty  or  fifty  rods  west  of  the  Methodist  church 
and  now  occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  James  Miller.  Wedge  had 
opened  a  shop  for  manufacturing  shoes  and  kept  a  small  stock  of 
groceries  and  dry  goods.  The  men  both  worked  at  shoes  and 
tried  to  build  up  a  paying  business,  but  did  not  succeed  as  well  as 
they  had  hoped,  and  the  firm  was  dissolved  after  being  in  business 
for  a  short  period,  Wedge  going  to  Chicopee  to  meet  with  better  suc- 
cess in  business. 

In  1873,  James  A.  Murray  and  John  F.  Murray  of  Boston  obtained 
control  of  the  asbestos  lands  on  Butter  Hill,  and  opened  the  mine  for 
getting  out  the  asbestos.  J.  F.  Murray  opened  a  grocery  store  in  the 
building  east  of  the  Methodist  church, afterwards  used  by  Alfred  Tuttle 
as  a  carpenter  shop,  but  continued  the  business  only  a  short  time. 
The  Murrays  left  the  asbestos  mine  and  the  grocery  business  in  1874. 
John  sold  his  goods  to  Martin  I).  Gold,  who  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness about  a  year  and  then  closed  the  store.  Edwin  J.  Powell  started 
in  the  grocery  business  in  1882.  In  1884  he  built  a  house  and  store 
opposite  the  Methodist  church  and  opened  for  business  as  a  grocer 
and  butcher.  The  daily  mail  having  been  established  between  the 
center  of  the  town  and  Amherst,  a  post-office  was  opened  at  the  store. 
Mr.  Powell  was  postmaster  from  March  30.  1887  to  Aug.  i,  1893. 
The  business  venture  not  proving  sufficiently  profitable.  Mr.  Powell 
sold  his  goods  to  W.  J.  Harris,  July  5,  1893.  Harris  ran  the  store 
about  a  year  and  gave  up  the  business,  and  the  post-office  was  dis- 
continued in  1893. 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,    ETC.  257 


Business  at  Packardville. 


About  the  year  1S40,  Joel  Packard  and  John  Thurston,  both  Pel- 
ham  men,  built  a  shop  at  the  south  part  of  the  town,  on  the  county 
road  from  Amherst  to  Enfield,  and  started  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
under  the  firm  name  of  Packard  &  Thurston,  and  since  that  time 
that  hamlet  has  been  known  as  Packardville.  The  wagons  they 
built  were  good,  strong,  durable  vehicles,  being  equipped  with  what 
was  known  as  "  thorough  braces  "  instead  of  steel  eliptic  springs, 
which  were  then  unknown.  Packard  &  Thurston  were  practical 
workmen  at  the  business  themselves  and  employed  a  few  men 
besides.  The  firm  finally  decided  to  remove  their  business  to  Bel- 
chertown,  and  did  so,  taking  down  the  old  shop  and  removing  that 
as  well  as  the  business.  The  first  store  in  this  part  of  the  town  was 
opened  by  Anson  Ramsdell  and  James  Hanks  at  Packardville  near 
where  the  roads  cross.  Ramsdell  put  in  five  or  six  barrels  of  liquor 
to  sell  with  other  goods.  Hanks  found  that  the  liquor  business  was 
ruining  the  trade  and  sold  it  all  out  at  once  to  an  Enfield  tavern 
keeper.     They  gave  up  business  and  removed  to  Hardwick. 

In  the  year  i860,  James  and  \\'arner  Hanks  of  Greenwich  came  to 
Packardville  and  built  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  wagon  shop  and  fill- 
ed it  with  a  suitable  stock  of  dry  goods  and  groceries  and  opened 
for  business.  They  continued  in  business  nine  years  and  sold  their 
stock  of  goods  to  Jared  Gould,  renting  him  the  store.  Gould  ran  the 
business  for  two  years,  when  Elmer  Whitney  succeeded  him.  Mr. 
Whitney  was  in  business  for  nearly  two  years  when  his  health  failed 
and  he  died. 

Abraham  Stevens  was  the  next  merchant  at  Packardville  ;  he  began 
business  in  January,  1873  and  continued  for  nearly  two  years,  when 
he  died.  Since  then  there  has  been  no  store  at  Packardville  and 
the  building  has  been  taken  down. 

Silas  S.  Shores  built  a  small  store  at  the  Hollow  and  used  it  for  a 
flour  and  meal  business  for  a  short  time  previous  to  1872,  when  he 
rented  the  store  to  J.  Monroe  Packard  who  put  in  a  stock  of  groceries 
and  a  small  line  of  dry  goods.  Packard  continued  the  business  for  a 
year  and  a  half  and  then  relinquished  the  venture  because  of  the 
limited  trade.  Mr.  Shores  still  owns  the  building,  which  has  since 
been  converted  into  a  dwelling. 


258  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Justices  of  the  Peace. 
Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray  was  commissioned  as  Justice  of  Peace  on 
petition  of  the  people  in  1786,  and  was  probably  the  first  one  in  town 
up  to  that  time.  James  Abercrombie,  Isaac  Abercrombie,  John 
Conkey,  Jr..  Barna  Brigham,  Constant  Ruggles,  Henry  Kingman, 
Oliver  Smith,  Jr.,  Ezra  Brown,  John  Rankin,  Jr.,  Cyrus  Kingman, 
John  Parmenter,  David  Abercrombie,  Horace  Gray,  John  Jones, 
A.  C.  Kieth,  John  F.  Dyer,  C.  D.  Eaton,  Minor  Gold,  and  per- 
haps others  have  served  the  town  in  the  capacity  of  Justice  of 
Peace.  Probably  Henry  Kingman  was  as  notable  as  any.  He 
came  to  Pelham  from  Bridgewater  early  in  this  present  century, 
being  the  first  of  that  name  in  the  town.  For  many  years  he  was 
appealed  to  for  professional  services.  Many  important  cases  were 
brought  before  him  for  trial  as  his  docket  or  record  book  gives 
abundant  evidence.  Civil  and  criminal  cases  were  numerous  seventy- 
five  years  ago.  Squire  Kingman  was  a  fine  penman,  and  his  services 
were  sought  for  in  drawing  up  transfers  of  property,  such  as  deeds 
and  mortgages,  etc.,  and  also  in  the  settlement  of  estates.  J.  W. 
Keith,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Keith  and  Silas  S.  Shores  are  the  Justices  now 
under  commission  in  the  town. 

Physicians. 

Dr.  Robert  Cutler,  the  son  of  Rev.  Robert  Cutler  of  Greenwich, 
was  born  at  Epping,  N.  H.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  at 
Hardwick  ;  began  practice  in  Pelham  in  1770;  married  Widow 
Esther  Guernsey  of  Northampton,  and  daughter  of  Elisha  Pomroy, 
Dec.  22,  1773.  He  was  a  physician  at  Pelham  until  17S7,  when  he 
removed  to  Amherst.  Dr.  Cutler  was  a  prominent  man  in  town 
affairs  and  served  on  the  school  committee.  He  was  not  in  sympathy 
with  the  insurgent  element  led  by  Capt.  Daniel  Shays  in  i786-'87 
and  vigorously  opposed  the  plans  of  the  rebel  leader.  The  Shays 
men  were  determined  that  he  should  fall  into  line  with  them  and 
appointed  a  night  on  which  he  was  notified  they  should  call  upon 
him  and  insist  on  his  accompanying  them  to  Springfield  in  the 
capacity  of  surgeon.  The  doctor  was  not  at  home  when  they  called. 
Being  disappointed  in  not  finding  him  they  demanded  food  of  Mrs. 
Cutler  and  she  set  before  them  what  food  there  was  in  the  house. 
When  the  food  was  eaten  they  demanded  cider  and  liquor.  Mrs. 
Cutler  placed  herself  in    front  of  the  door  leading  to  the  cellar,   and 


MILLS,    MANUFACTURIES,     ETC.  259 

declared  that  all  cider  or  liquor  obtained  would  be  secured  by  pass- 
ing over  her  dead  body.  The  rebels  made  some  threats,  broke  some 
dishes  but  went  their  way  without  tasting  the  Doctor's  cider. 

Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds  was  a  man  of  affairs  as  well  as  a  physician 
and  his  name  appears  very  often  in  town  and  church  records  from 
1780  to  1825. 

Dr.  Isaac  Powers  was  in  town  early  in  this  century. 

Dr.  Henry  Williams  name  is  found  in  connection  with  his  services 
attending  the  poor  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Abiah  Southworth  was  another  prominent  man  as  well  as 
physician  from  1785  to  1828. 

Dr.  Olney  Potter  lived  at  the  west  end  of  the  town  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  George  P.  Shaw. 

Dr.  Albigence  King  was  practicing  in  town  as  early  as  18 17,  per- 
haps earlier ;  he  also  ser.ved  the  town  as  school  committee. 

Dr.  Daniel  Thompson  was  a  native  of  Pelham  and  was  a  practic- 
ing physician  for  twelve  years  before  removing  to  Northampton. 
He  served  as  school  committee. 

Dr.  Nathaniel  Ingraham  was  a  physician  in  1839. 

Dr.  Israel  H.  Taylor  was  also  a  native  of  the  town  and  was  a  suc- 
cessful physician  in  his  native  town  before  removing  to  Amherst. 

Dr.  Adam  C.  Craig  was  in  town  a  few  years. 

Dr.  Code  was  in  town  for  a  short  time. 

Dr.  Rhodes  was  connected  with  the  Orient  house  for  several  sea- 
sons, as  was  Dr.  Beers. 

Dr.  Herman  Heed  was  the  proprietor  of  the  Orient  Springs  House 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  tire  in  1881.  Since  his  removal  from  town 
there  has  been  no  resident  physician  in  Pelham. 

Blacksmiths. 

Robert  Peibols  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  purchase  of  the  tract 
of  land  and  starting  the  settlement,  was  the  first  blacksmith.  Where 
his  shop  was  located  is  not  known,  but  the  ring  of  Peibols'  anvil  was 
the  first  heard  in  the  settlement. 

Doubtless  other  blacksmiths  came  when  Peibols  laid  down  his 
hammer  for  the  last  time,  but  no  record  tells  who  they  were  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Early  in  the  Nineteenth, 
Thomas  Harlow  worked  as  a  blacksmith  at  the  west  end  of  the  town 
near  the  Methodist  church. 


26o  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Jonathan  Pratt  had  his  forge  in  the  Valley,  and  David  Hannum 
had  a  blacksmith  shop  on  the  county  road  at  the  west  end  of  the 
town. 

Abijah  Bruce  was  a  blacksmith  in  the  Hollow  for  many  years  and 
lived  on  the  place  now  occupied  by  John  Vanstone.  His  shop  was 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  highway. 

Nathaniel  Dodge  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  on  the  main  road 
from  the  center  of  the  town  to  Packardville  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  EUison  Dodge. 

Samuel  W.  Russell  and  his  brother  John  S.  Russell  worked  at 
blacksmithing  at  that  part  of  the  town  called  Packardville. 

In  more  recent  years  Ansel  Hill  was  the  village  blacksmith,  a  short 
distance  west  of  the  center  of  the  town. 

At  present  Justin  W.  Canterbury  works  at  the  business  towards  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  and  Charles  A.  Holcomb  towards  the  south 
part,  but  nearer  the  center  than  Canterbury. 

Population  of  Pelham  and  Amherst  Compared. 

AMHERST 
3206 


YEARS. 

PELHAM. 

AMHERST. 

YEARS. 

PELHAM. 

1765 

371 

1045 

1855 

789 

1776 

729 

i860 

748 

T79O 

1040 

1865 

737 

1800 

I  144 

1352 

1S7O 

673 

181O 

I  185 

1875 

633 

1820 

1278 

I9I7 

1880 

614 

1830 

904 

1885 

549 

1840 

956 

2550 

1890 

486 

1850 

983 

1895 

486 

47^5 


RELIGIOUS  SOCIETIES 


The  First  Prcsbvteiian  Church  History  gathered  from  the  town  and 
parish  records,  the  old  church  records  Iiainiig  been  lost  or 
destroyed. 


The    Presbyterian  Church. 

As  all  records  of  the  organization  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
church  at  Pelham  are  lost  or  not  accessible  it  is  impossible  even  to 
fix  upon  the  exact  date  of  its  organization.  It  is  well  known  that 
the  settlers  of  the  town  begun  to  build  the  meetinghouse  in  1739 
and  that  the  first  service  was  held  long  before  it  was  finished. 

Services  were  continued  from  that  time  until  the  Rev.  Robert 
Abercrombie  began  to  preach  to  the  people  of  the  town  in  1742, 
who  these  "  supplyers  "  were  we  find  no  record.  Mr.  Abercrombie 
was  settled  in  1744  and  was  the  pastor  for  twelve  years, — including 
the  two  years  that  he  preached  before  his  ordination.  After  his 
dismissal  by  the  Presbytery  there  was  no  settled  pastor  for  nine 
years,  or  until  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  in 
1763.  It  was  during  this  long  interval  that  the  town  was  without  a 
settled  orthodox  minister,  that  the  town  was  prosecuted  or  indicted 
by  the  grand  jury  of  Hampshire  county  and  ordered  to  appear  in 
court  to  answer  for  the  neglect  ;  the  record  in  detail  being  given 
elsewhere.  During  the  years  from  1754  to  1763  it  is  probable  there 
was  preaching  most  of  the  time,  sometimes  by  preachers  sent  by  the 
Presbytery  and  sometimes  by  the  action  of  the  people  of  the  town  in 
sending  a  man  as  a  committee  or  agent  to  secure  a  minister  for  the 
town.  In  1755,  the  year  after  Mr.  Abercrombie  was  dismissed,  there 
w^ere  three  ministers  that  received  pay  for  services  supplying  the 
pulpit.  Rev.  Mr.  Dickinson  was  allowed  £2 — 12s,  Rev.  Mr.  Mc- 
Clintock,  ^4 — 8s,  and  Rev.  Mr.  John  Houston  ^5 — 8s. 

How  many  others  supplied  the  pulpit  that  year  is  not  known,  but 
as  ^45  was  voted  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  that  year  the  services 
of  Messrs.  Dickinson,  McClintock  and  Houston  could  not  have  cov- 
ered the  entire  year.  About  £i\o  was  allowed  for  the  support  of  the 
Gospel  each  year  following  1755  up  to  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Graham 


262  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

but  who  the  ministers  were  that  preached  for  these  Presbyterians  all 
these  years  is  not  clear  from  the  town  records. 

In  October,  1760  John  Crawford  was  chosen  to  go  to  New  Jersey 
to  "  Gett  a  Minister  to  supply  the  Pulpit,"  and  on  another  occasion  a 
man  was  sent  to  Pennsylvania  on  the  same  errand.  The  long  horse- 
back journeys  involved  in  seeking  a  minister  is  evidence  that  no  pains 
or  expense  were  spared  in  searching  for  pulpit  supply  by  the  people 
of  Pelham  at  that  time. 

At  a  meeting  Jan.  24,  1763,  it  was  "voted  that  Richard  Crouch 
Graham  is  to  be  their  Gospel  Minister,"  and  ^60  a  year  fixed  as  the 
salary  of  Mr.  Graham.  He  was  ordained  and  began  his  labors  as 
pastor  and  a  new  house  was  built  for  him.  The  only  means  of  infor- 
mation as  to  the  location  of  the  house  is  the  following  vote  concern- 
ing the  location  of  a  road  :  "  That  there  is  a  two  Rode  Road  estab- 
lished from  ye  two  Rode  Road  south  of  Mr.  Grahams  New  House  by 
s''  house  to  the  County  Road.  Consented  to  by  R  Crouch  Graham 
March  4,  1765." 

Notwithstanding  the  protest  of  twenty-one  men  against  the  action 
of  the  majority  in  voting  to  settle  Mr.  Graham,  (three  of  them  being 
men  who  protested  against  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Abercrombie)  he 
seems  to  have  been  successful  in  his  work  for  the  seven  years  he  was 
spared  to  labor  with  them.  Mr.  Graham  died  on  the  25th  of  Febru- 
ary, 177 1  in  the  32d  year  of  his  age,  and  the  town  was  again  left 
without  a  settled  pastor. 

In  October,  1772,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Bay  was  invited  to  settle  as 
pastor,  and  /^8o  granted  as  a  settlement ;  but  Mr.  Bay  was  not  set- 
tled, and  the  church  was  without  a  settled  pastor  until  1775  when 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Merrill  was  installed,  a  call  having  been  extended  to 
him  Nov.  23,  1774.  At  a  meeting  August  28,  1775,  it  was  "Voted 
there  is  preperation  to  be  made  for  the  installment  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Merrill,  and  that  said  preperation  be  for  Ministers  &  other  Gentle- 
men of  Liberal  Education.''  Thomas  Cochran,  Robert  Hamilton 
and  James  Halbert  were  chosen  committee  to  make  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  entertainment  of  the  dignitaries  invited  to  take 
part  in  the  installation. 

From  what  part  of  the  country  Mr.  Merrill  came  from  is  not  indi- 
cated, but  Jonathan  Gray  was  allowed  "  £1,  14s  expense  Money  for 
Bringing  up  Mr  Merrill  and  family."  £']o  was  voted  as  settlement 
and  ;^8o  yearly  salary;  and  £60  was  added  to  his  salary  in   1778. 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  263; 

This  income  was  probably  necessary  owing  to  the  depreciated 
currency.  Further  increase  of  his  salary  was  found  desirable,  and  in 
1779  ;^42o  was  added  to  Mr.  Merrill's  salary,  but  this  vote  was 
recalled  subsequently,  as  was  the  increase  of  £Go  previously  voted 
and  the  pastor  was  left  with  the  original  salary,  and  its  value  in  cur- 
rency inuch  depreciated. 

Mr.  Merrill  made  a  strong  appeal  to  the  people  of  the  town  after 
the  above  reconsideration  and  the  result  of  his  appeal  caused  the 
people  to  do  justice  to  their  pastor;  and  at  a  meeting  Dec.  lo,  1779 
the  ^420  was  again  voted  and  the  vote  stood  firm.  Mr.  Merrill's 
plain  statement  of  facts  concerning  himself  was  what  the  town  meet- 
ing of  Dec.  10,  1779  was  called  to  consider.  It  was  placed  before 
the  town  in  the  form  of  a  warrant  for  their  consideration  and  is 
found  on  page  138. 

March  23,  1780  it  was  "Voted  that  there  is  ^^2000  added  to  the 
Rev  Mr  Merrills  ^500  for  the  Present  year," — amounting  to  ;^25oo 
in  depreciated  continental  currency. 

On  the  i8th  of  May,  17S1  there  was  a  town  meeting  at  which  the 
town  "  Voted  Twenty  three  Hundred  and  twelve  pound  ten  shillings, 
old  Continental  Money  to  be  assessed  to  Enable  the  Treasurer  to 
settle  with  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill." 

July  30,  1 78 1.     Article  in  warrant  for  town  meeting  : 

"  To  see  if  the  town  will  reconsider  a  vote  passed  in  April  last  to  raise 
^23 1 2  -los  continental  money  to  redeem  a  note  given  to  Air.  Merrill  by  the 
Treasurer." 

There  is  no  record  of  action  on  this  article;  but  the  vote  to  raise 
;^3o  in  hard  money  for  the  supply  of  the  pulpit  at  this  meeting  indi- 
cates that  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  had  been  dismissed,  although  no  record 
of  dismissal  appears  upon  the  records. — the  dismissal  of  ministers 
being  by  action  of  the  Presbytery  or  Council. 

The  Presbyterian  church  and  town  was  without  a  pastor  again  for 
quite  a  number  of  years  and  dependent  upon  the  "  Supplyer."  It 
was  during  this  long  period  in  which  there  was  no  settled  pastor  that 
the  church  and  town  had  the  experience  with  the  unregenerate 
impostor,  Stephen  Burroughs,  in  1784,  and  the  year  and  more  of 
turmoil  and  excitement  of  the  Shays  Rebellion  in  1786-87.  The 
second  parish  had  been  organized  and  consequently  the  tirst  parish 
was  obliged  to  do  the  same  and  the  business  of  securing  supplyers. 
devolved  upon  the  parish  instead  of  the  town  from  1786  to  1822. 


264  hisrory  ok  pelham,  mass. 

First  Parish  Records,   1786  to   1822. 

The  call  for  the  first  meeting  of  the  first  parish  was  issued  by 
Ebenezer  Mattoon,  Jr.,  of  Amherst,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was 
directed  to  John  Rinkin,  Dec.  25,  1786.  The  parish  was  organized 
Jan.  4,  1787  with  the  following  officers:  Ebenezer  Gray,  moderator  : 
Andrew  Abercrombie,  parish  clerk  ;  Lieut.  Joseph  Packard,  Hugh 
Johnston,  Capt.  John  Thompson,  parish  committee  ;  John  Harkness, 
Joseph  Hamilton,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Sampson,  assessors  ;  John  Peebles, 
parish  treasurer. 

Sept.  18,  1787,  "  Voted  to  authorize  Collector  to  take  produce  for 
parish  Rates  at  following  prices  : 

"  Voted  that  the  collector  shall  take  flaxseed  at  4"  pr  Bushel — 
Wheat  at  4'-6''  pr  bushel — Rye  at  3'°  pr  bushel,  Indian  corn  at  2^-4'' 
pr  bushel, — oats  at  i'-4''  per  bushel, — Peas  at  4'  per  bushel, — Butter 
at  7'  pr  pound.  Voted  that  the  above  said  stipulated  articles  shall  be 
transported  by  each  individual  that  has  rates  to  Pay  to  the  Parish 
treasurer,  that  each  carry  his  produce  to  the  Collector,  and  the 
latter  not  obliged  to  take  flaxseed  after  Sept.  next." 

A  committee  was  given  full  power  to  settle  with  the  second  parish 
concerning  pews  in  dispute  by  allowing  the  owners  one-third  of  the 
first  cost  if  good  security  is  given  for  the  pews.  "Voted  that  com- 
mittee allow  half  way  between  one  half  and  one  third  of  the  first  cost 
•of  pews  in  the  first  parish  meeting  house." 

Meeting,  Oct.  5,  1787  "Voted  that  Pews  lately  purchased  of  the 
.second  parish  shall  be  disposed  of  by  seating  them  to  those  that 
have  no  Pews  and  pay  the  highest  taxes,  shall  have  their  choice  of 
Pews  by  paying  the  sum  which  was  offered  for  them  when  they  were 
tformerly  seated." 

Oct.  15,  ''  Voted  that  there  be  made  one  tear  of  pews  on  the  side 
■Gallery  and  that  they  be  offered  to  the  highest  in  valuation  that  has 
110  pews — so  in  the  same  proportion  till  the  whole  is  compounded." 

Meeting,  Feb.   7,    1791. 

"  Chose  Lt  John  Rinken,  Lt  Nath"  Sampson,  Mr  Hugh  Johnson, 
M'  Jonathan  Leach,  Lt  Benoni  Shurtlieff  a  committee  to  fix  on  a 
sum  or  sums  for  the  Settlement  and  Sallery  of  M'  Jabez  Pond  Fisher. 

Voted  to  give  Mr.  Fisher  ^145  Settlement,  ^  of  it  in  one  year  from 
ithe  time  of  Settlement  and  the  other  |  in  two  years  from  said  time. 
Voted  to  give  Mr.  Fisher  £G^  a  year  for  two  years  then  add  ;{^2-io' 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  265' 

yearly  till  it  amounts  to  ^80."  But  Jabez  Pond  Fisher  was  not 
settled  in  Pelham. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  dismissed  in  1780  and  until  August  27,  1795, 
they  were  without  a  settled  pastor.  Patrick  Peebles  and  Robert 
McCuUoch  had  gone  to  bring  Rev.  William  Oliver's  family  (probably 
from  Londonderry,  N.  H.)  to  Pelham,  Mr.  Oliver  having  accepted 
their  call.  At  this  distance  from  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing 
it  is  impossible  to  state  what  obstacles  may  have  been  in  the  way  of 
having  settled  ministers  instead  of  supplyers,  but  the  fault  must  have 
rested  largely  with  the  people  themselves.  Just  how  many  ministers 
they  had  called  to  settle  cannot  be  determined  accurately  but  it  was 
a  fact  that  in  the  early  part  of  1791  they  had  given  calls  to  Rev. 
Jabez  Pond  Fisher  and  Rev.  Solomon  Spalding,  but  for  some  reason 
that  does  not  appear  upon  the  record  the  call  was  not  accepted  in 
either  case.  Mr.  Freeman  and  a  Mr.  Stone  and  probably  others  had' 
preached  as  supplyers. 

Mr.  Oliver  accepted  their  call  in  1792,  but  one  condition  of  his 
acceptance  was,  the  paying  one-half  of  the  ^160  settlement  within 
two  months  after  his  ordination  and  the  other  half  within  one  year,^ 
instead  of  one  year  to  pay  the  first  half,  and  two  years  to  pay  the 
second,  as  first  voted.  Possibly  the  knowledge  had  become  general 
that  the  people  of  Pelham  did  not  have  the  united  and  harmonious 
relations  with  their  ministers  to  be  desired,  or  if  such  relations  existed 
at  the  settlement  of  a  minister  they  did  not  continue  long,  and  under 
the  circumstances  it  would  be  a  good  move  to  have  a  good  part  of 
the  settlement  paid  early.  The  ordination  had  taken  place  and  there 
was  now  a  settled  minister  in  the  first  church  and  parish  as  we  learn 
by  the  record  of  the  meeting,  Oct.  28,  1793. 

Meeting,  June  10,  1794. 

•'  Article  3  To  see  if  it  is  the  minds  of  the  Parish  to  Direct  the  Parish 
Committee  to  proceed  in  Colom'ing  the  backside  of  the  Meetinghouse 
according  to  a  former  vote  of  the  Parish. 

Article  4  To  see  if  it  is  the  minds  of  the  Parish  to  Grant  Dr  Southworth 
and  others  the  Privilege  of  Putting  in  a  window  for  the  use  of  the  Pulpit  in 
the  first  Parish  Meetinghouse." 

On  article  3,  it  was  "  Voted  to  Direct  the  Parish  Committee  to 
postpone  CuUering  the  backside  of  the  Meetinghouse  for  the 
Present."      No  action  on  the  proposition  of  Dr.  Southworth    to  place 


266  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

a  window   in  the  meeting  house    to  allow  the  light   to  shine    into  the 
pulpit. 

The  assessors  were  directed  "  to  asses  the  salery  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Oliver  and  the  remainder  part  of  his  Settlement  as  soon  as  May  be." 
This  indicates  that  his  settlement  was  not  paid  according  to  the  vote 
when  he  was  settled. 

Meeting,  May  14,   1799. 

"Voted  to  seat  the  singers  in  tlie  gallerys.  Voted  to  give  the 
Singers  all  the  front  seats  and  all  seats  in  the  East  gallery,  and  one 
half  of  the  seats  in  the  West  gallery." 

Both  Parishes  had  begun  to  realize  that  it  was  not  easy  to  run  two 
parishes  in  the  town,  and  in  a  call  for  a  meeting  of  the  first  parish, 
May  29,  1805',  appears  this  article  : 

"  To  see  if  it  is  the  Minds  of  the  Parish  to  Chose  a  committee  to  consult 
with  the  Committee  from  the  East  Parish  on  the  Expediency  of  the  Parishes 
Joining  in  the  Support  of  the  Gospel  and  Pass  any  vote  on  the  subject 
tliat  shall  be  thought  Necessary  on  the  Suljject."' 

Acting  on  the  above  article  it  was  "  Voted  to  chose  a  Committee 
of  five — Lt  Rinken,  Dea  Gray.  Landlord  Hach,  Major  Conkey  and 
Ksquire  Abercrombie — said  Committee  to  treat  with  the  Second 
Parish  on  the  Expediency  of  the  Parishes  Joining  in  the  Support  of 
the  Gospel." 

The  labors  of  Rev.  Andrew  Oliver  had  ended  in  the  first  parish, 
for,  at  a  meeting  Oct.  7,  1805,  the  warrant  calls  for  action  on  the 
following  business : 

"  To  see  what  sum  the  Parish  will  Grant  for  the  yearly  support  of  the 
Rev''  Mr.  Brainard  in  Case  lie  takes  the  l^astoral  Charge  of  this  Cliurchand 
Congregation  and  Pass  any  vote  tlve  Parish  shall  tliink  Necessary  on  the 
Subject." 

Actions  on  above  article  : — "Voted  to  raise  the  Rev  Mr.  Elijah 
Brainard  $350  for  his  yearly  support  so  long  as  he  Performs  the 
Ministerial  Duties  in  this  Church  and  Congregation. 

Choose  Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray,  Dea.  Nathaniel  Sampson  and  Mr. 
John  Rinken  Committee  to  Make  arrangements  for  the  Installation 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Elijah  Brainard." 

March  23,  1806  "  Voted  to  Choose  two  men  to  go  to  Randolph  to 
, Sarch  out  Mr.  Brainard's  Carictor  : — Said  men  is  Dea.  Thompson 
and  Dea.  Grav." 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  267 

Unquestionably  the  ("ommittee  went  to  Randolph  to  "  Search  the 
Character  "  of  Mr.  Brainard  as  at  a  Meeting  in  May  following,  Dea, 
Gray  was  allowed  $15.29  for  a  journey  to  Randolph  and  Dea. 
Thompson  $17.00  for  a  journey  to  Randolph: — the  latter  was 
also  allowed  $4  for  the  use  of  a  horse  on  the  same  journey  and  Dea. 
Gray  was  allowed  $5  for  his  time. 

The  murmurings  of  the  anti-Brainard  party  seemed  to  come  up  con- 
tinually as  shown  by  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  a  Parish  Meeting, 
November  25,1806,  based  on  a  petition  sent  in  by  anti-Brainard  men. 
What  they  petitioned  for  is  herewith  set  forth  : — 

•'  To  see  if  the  Parish  will  Remit  the  Parish  taxes  of  all  those  who  do  not 
attend  the  Administration  of  the  Rev.  Elijah  Brainard  nor  wish  to  support 
him  as  their  Minister." 

"Voted  not  to  Remit  taxes  of  those  who  do  not  attend  the  Admin- 
istration of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brainard." 

Meeting  May  3,  1809.  The  commendable  freedom  from  trouble 
in  the  church  and  parish  for  two  years  past  could  not  be  continued,  and 
the  old  opposition  to  Rev.  Mr.  Brainard  crops  out  again,  as  per 
warrant : — 

"  Article  2.  To  see  if  the  parish  will  Choose  a  Committee  to  converse 
with  Mr.  Brainard  at  this  session  and  state  to  him  the  situation  of  support- 
ing him  as  their  Minister  and  Make  and  Receive  propositions  for  his 
removal  from  the  Charge  of  this  Church  and  Congregation,  and  make 
report  of  it  at  s''  Meeting  and  poll  all  votes  relative  to  the  above  subject." 

x\ction  on  above  article.  "  Voted  to  choose  a  committee  to  treat 
with  Mr.  Brainard  Respecting  taking  a  Dismission, — James 
Abercrombie,  Wm.  Dunlap,  Lt.  Taylor,  Lt.  Rankin  and  Samuel 
Clark,  committee." 

A  special  Meeting  of  the  Parish  was  called  Oct.  17,  iSii,  with  an 
article  in  the  warrant,  of  which  the  following  is  a  true  copy. 

"Articl2  2.  To  see  if  the  inhabitants  of  the  first  Parish  of  Pelham  will 
vote  to  Dismiss  the  Rev.  Elijah  Brainard  from  his  Pastoral  care  and 
Charge  of  this  Church  and  Congregation  of  said  Parish." 

Action  on  warrant :---"  Doct.  Abiah  Southworth  chosen  Modera- 
tor : — Voted  to  Dismiss  Rev.  Mr.  Brainard  in   a  legal  Mode. 

Voted  to  choose  a  agent  to  Attend  Presbytery  Respecting  the 
Dismission  of  Mr.  Brainard,  said  Agent  is  James  Abercrombie. 

Voted  to  send  Ensign  John  Rinken  to  Presbytery  with  Mr. 
Brainard." 


268  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  Presbytery  made  the  Pelham  people  two  propositions  for 
them  to  select  from  in  dismissing  Mr.  Brainard,  and  at  a  Meeting, 
Nov.  1 8,  1811,  they  "Voted  to  Except  the  first  proposal  of  the 
Presbytery,  that  is,  to  pay  Mr.  Elijah  Brainard  $160  according  to 
the  Proposal  of  the  Presbytery. 

Voted  to  raise  $160  to  meet  the  above  vote." 

The  dismissal  of  Mr.  ]5rainard  was  accomplished  at  last  after  a 
rather  stormy  pastorate  of  about  five  years.  He  was  settled  by 
installation  near  the  last  of  the  year  1805  or  early  in  1806.  Early 
in  the  spring  following  the  mutterings  of  dissatisfaction  began  and 
a  committee  of  two  Deacons  were  sent  to  Randolph  "  To  Sarch  out 
Mr.  Brainard's  Carictor,"  and  from  that  time  on  there  was  a  Brain- 
ard and  an  Anti-Brainard  party  until  he  was  dismissed. 

It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Brainard  still  remained  a  resident  of  the 
town  after  his  dismissal  from  the  pastorate,  as  in  a  copy  of  the  tax  bills 
of  the  first  parish  for  the  year  18 13  the  name  of  Elijah  Brainard 
appears  as  a  tax  payer. 

In  18 1 2  Andrew  Hyde,  David  Harkness,  George  Macomber, 
Isaac  Otis,  Jun.,  John  Harkness,  Jr.  and  David  Hannum  petitioned 
the  General  Court  to  be  set  off  to  Amherst  for  parochial  purposes,  and 
an  order  of  notice  was  served  on  the  parish  by  Ebenezer  Mattoon 
sheriff.  The  parish  voted  promptly  not  to  set  ofi^  the  petitioners  and 
choose  a  committee  to  oppose  the  petition  in  the  General  Court. — 
They  were  not  set  off. 

Meeting,  Dec.  4,    18 12. 
Warrant,  Article  2.     "' To  see  if  the   Parish   will    Chose  a   Committee   to 
Converse  with  the  Committee  of  the  Second  Parish  of    Pelham  respecting 
forming  a  union  of  the  two  Parishes  so  far  as  relates  to  Ministerial  affairs." 

Committee's  Report. 

"  To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  first  Parish  in  Pelham,  in  this  Meeting, 
Assembled.  Centlemen :— We  your  Committee  appointed  to  Consult  with  a 
Committee  from  the  Second  Parish  of  Pelham,  have  meet  According  to 
Appointment  and  have  agreed  to  propose  to  the  several  Parishes  as  follows  : 
(Viz.)  That  the  first  Parish  should  raise  one  hundred  Dollars  and  the 
Second  Parish  one  Hundred  Dollars  and  that  the  aforesaid  sums  be  laid 
out  for  the  support  of  a  publick  teacher  of  religion  and  Morality,  the 
publick  meetings  to  be  held  three  fifths  of  the  time  in  the  first  Parish  Meet- 
ing house  and  two  fifths  in  the  Second.  The  time  proposed  for  said  Agree- 
ment to  Commence  is  the  first  of  April  next. 

Ebenezer  Gray,  John  Rankin,  James  Abercromi;ik.  Committee. 
Pelham,  Dec.  31,  18 12." 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  269 

Committees  of  both  parishes  agreed  upon  a  basis  of  union  in  Dec, 
1812  to  take  effect  April,  1813,  but  no  union  was  effected. 

As  there  was  no  settled  pastor  now  the  sum  of  $200  was  thought 
sufficient  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  for  the  year  18 14. 

Meeting,  Jan.  2,  18 15.  "  Voted  to  give  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  a 
call  for  Settlement. — Voted  to  give  him  $400  per  year  providing  he 
will  settle  with  us  as  long  as  he  remains  our  Minister.  '' 

March  24,  1817.  About  this  time  there  began  to  be  some  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  Old  Meeting  house.  Some  seemed  to  be  in 
favor  of  general  repairs  on  the  old  building  and  others  were  anxious 
for  a  new  one.  This  difference  of  opinion  was  the  cause  of  dis- 
agreement and  contention.  The  parish  would  vote  to  build  a  new 
house,  and  order  plans  : — then  reconsider,  and  vote  to  repair  the  old 
one  by  subscription.  Adjournment  would  be  carried  at  this  stage  of 
the  proceedings  and  on  assembling  a  vote  to  build  a  new  Meeting 
house  would  be  carried.  This  change  of  sentiment  and  reconsider- 
ation of  votes  continued  through  many  meetings  for  a  year  or  more 
and  then  settled  down  to  making  an  agreement  with  the  proprietors 
of  the  old  Meeting  house,  July  4,  iSiS,  as  follows  :  "  Voted  to  give 
and  relinquish  to  the  proprietors  of  the  pews  in  the  Meeting  house 
the  pew  ground  and  seats  in  the  front  of  the  body  pews  on  the  lower 
floor  in  lieu  of  the  $200  voted  on  the  27th  of  May  last  to  assist  said 
proprietors  in  repairing  the  Meeting  house." 

April  10,  1820.  It  is  possible  that  the  vote  of  the  previous  year 
to  allow  Doct.  Abiah  Southworth  $5  for  sweeping  the  Meeting 
house,  "  Extra  and  Common,"  had  caused  a  belief  that  the  Doctor 
was  getting  too  much  of  the  parish  money  into  his  hands,  and  the  care, 
of  the  Meeting  house  was  struck  off  to  the  lowest  bidder.  Eliot. 
Gray  got  the  plum  for  $2.17  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  meeting 
was  adjourned  several  times  and  the  last  to  July  4th. 

A  large  measure  of  harmony  and  contentment  seemed  to  prevail 
under  the  ministration  of  the  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  and  the  people 
were  not  called  together  in  parish  meeting  during  the  time  from  July 
4,  1820,  to  April  3,  182  I — which  was  a  long  time  for  them.  Rev_ 
Mr.  Bailey  was  a  man  greatly  respected  by  the  people  of  Pelham  and 
had  much  more  pleasant  relations  with  them  than  some  of  the 
pastors  that  preceded  him.  He  was  on  the  school  committee  for 
several  years,  and  was  chosen  as  delegate  from  the  town  to  the 
^9 


270  HISTORY    OV    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Constitutional  Convention  held  at  Boston  on  the  3d  of  Nov.  1820, 
for  the  revision  of  the  Constitution.  He  owned  a  farm  in  the  town 
and  probably  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  to  tilling  it.  Mr. 
Bailey  was  dismissed  in  September  1825  and  was  the  last  Presby- 
terian pastor  settled  in  Pelham.  Some  years  elapsed  before 
another  pastor  was  called  and  during  this  interval  there  was  a 
change  to  Congregationalism.  Mr.  Bailey  moved  to  Deerfield  in 
1825, — taught  in  the  Deerfield  Academy  :  and  preached  at  the 
Unitarian  Church  at  Greenfield,  now  known  as  All  Souls  Church, 
from  1825  to  1S30.  Descendants  of  Mr.  Bailey  lived  in  Pelham  for 
many  years  and  there  are  some  in  Northampton  at  the  present  time. 

Taxing  the  property  of  the  whole  town  for  the  support  of  the 
minister  began  to  be  a  source  of  irritation,  and  considerable  opposi- 
tion arose,  not  only  in  Pelham  but  all  over  the  state  from  those  of 
different  religious  sects  that  had  began  to  appear  in  the  towns.  In 
Pelham  when  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  were  in  the  ascendency,  the 
few  Quakers,  Baptists,  Universalists  and  Unitarians  that  had  come 
in  objected  to  having  their  property  taxed  to  support  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  The  feeling  became  so  strong  in  the  state  that  in 
1833  the  Eleventh  Amendment  to  the  Constitution  was  adopted 
which  put  an  end  to  the  taxation  of  any  mans  property  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  Gospel  without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  and  the  result 
of  this  change  tended  to  lessen  the  amount  raised  for  the  support  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  to  cause  a  neglect  of  the  ordinances  of 
the  gospel  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  people  of  Pelham. 

In  the  foregoing  records  of  the  first  parish  the  frequent  applica- 
tions for  abatement  of  a  parish  tax  because  parties  taxed  claimed 
to  belong  to  the  Baptist  persuasion,  or  of  some  other  belief  than  the 
"standing  order"  or  that  they  were  Quakers,  gave  the  Scotch 
Presbyterians  not  a  little  vexation,  and  it  will  be  remembered  that  they 
required  those  who  desired  to  be  relieved  from  taxation  for  the 
support  of  the  Gospel,  to  prove  they  were  of  another  faith  before 
the  tax  was  levied  upon  them.  While  no  such  documentary  proofs 
appear  on  the  parish  record  book  they  are  found  on  the  town  records, 
copies  of  a  few  follow  : 

'•  Belchertown,  July  14  daj-  A.  D.  1S06. 

This  may  Serve  to  Sertify  the  Town  of  I'elham  the  first  Parish  in  Parti- 
cular that  Mr.  Oliver  Smith  of  Pelham  is  Member  of  the  Baptist  Society 
in  Belchertown  and  Pays  towards  the  support  of  the  Gospel  thair. 

Jeremiah  Haskel,  Teacher." 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 


271 


"We  certify  that  Lewis  Draper,  William  Gaskin,  Levi  Newell,  Solomon 
Braley,  Collins  Braley,  Jesse  Allen,  Esick  Baker,  Joseph  Howard,  Silas 
Bayington,  Laben  Alby,  Ezra  Brown,  Jesse  F.  Peck,  Isaac  Otis  Jun., 
Oliver  Curtice,  Nathan  Jilson,  Sen.,  Reuben  Waiscoat,  John  Taylor, 
Aaron  Dwelley  attend  the  Baptist  Meeting  in  Shutesbury  and  when  held 
elsewhere,  and  pay  to  us  the  Baptist  order  in  Shutesbury  there  fore,  these 
are  to  Desire  that  they  may  be  Exempted  from  Taxes  as  the  Law  Directs." 
Joseph  Smalage.  Lisco.mb  Brigham,  Luther  Spear,  Committee. 
Shutesbury,  Nov.  nth,  181 1." 

"We  certify  that  Joseph  Whipple  of   Pelham   Belongs  to  the   Religious 
Society  in  the  town  of  Dana,  Called  Universalists. 
Dated  this  first  Day  of  April  1812. 

Stephen  Johnston,  Aaron  Johnson,  Committee." 
Pelham,  Third  Mo.  the  2Sth,  1820. 
''We  the  Subscribers,  Overseers  of  the    Meeting  or  Society  of   Friends 
Called  Quakers  in  the  Town  of   Pelham  in   the   County  of   Hampshire  do 
hereby  certify  that  Samuel  Willard  Usually  attends  with   us   in  our   Stated 
Meetings  for  Worship. 

Asahel  Aldrich,  Clerk." 

From  the  Records  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  and 
Parish  of  Pelham,   from   1786  to   1822. 

After  a  long  contest  on  the  part  of  the  people  living  East  of  the 
West  Branch  of  Swift  River  they  succeedecl  in  securing  the  passage 
of  an  act  of  incorporation  through  the  legislature  for  a  Second  parish, 
to  include  all  that  part  of  Pelham  East  of  the  River,  and  also 
included  some  people  living  in  New  Salem. 

The  act  passed  both  houses  of  the  General  Court  and  was  signed 
by  Gov.  James  Bowdoin,  Jan.  28,  1786. 

The  first  parish  meeting  was  held  Aug.  24,  1786. — Moderator,  Dr. 
N.  Hinds  ;  Clerk,  Lamond  Gray  ;  Treasurer,  James  C.  McMillin  ; 
Parish  Committee,  Dr.  N.  Hinds,  Alexander  Berry,  John  Linsey ; 
Assessors,  Wm.  Conkey,  Jun.,  Lt.  John  Hamilton,  William  Berry ; 
Collector,  Eliot  Gray  ;  Daniel  Grey,  Surety  for  the  Collector. 

With  the  above  officers  chosen  the  Second  Parish  of  Pelham  was 
organized. 

^10  was  voted  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  and  ^10  for  defray- 
ing parish  expenses  for  the  year,  ending  in  April,  1787,  when  a  new 
set  of  officers  was  chosen  and  ^10  voted  for  the  support  of  the 
Gospel. 

In  March,  1788,  It  was  "Voted  to  send  a  man  to  inform  Mr. 
Chatman  that  we  are  making  preparations  to  give  him  a  Call. 


272  HISTORY    OV    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Voted  Daniel  Gray  should  be  s''  Messenger. 

Voted  to  appoint  a  Minister  to  hold  a  day  of  fasting  to  Moderate 
the  Call  for  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Chatman. 

Voted  that  the  Rev.  Moses  Baldwin  should  be  s'*  Minister. 

Voted  to  give  Mr.  Chatman  a  call. 

Voted  six  shillings  per  week  in  summer  and  seven  shillings  in 
winter  for  boarding  the  Minister." 

April  14,  1788.  "Voted  to  give  Mr.  Chatman  ^150  Settlement 
and  from  ^50  to  £jo  Sallary — Payable  thus, — ;^5o  yearly  for 
three  years — then  ^^55  the  fourth  year  and  advancing  £c^  a  year 
until  £-jo  and  that  be  his  sallery  as  long  as  he  remains  the  Minister 
of  s"  Parish." 

Dec.  9.  1788.  "Voted  that  the  Committee  of  said  Parish 
should  proceed  in  building  the  Meeting  house  as  fast  as  they  Con- 
veniently Can. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Chatman  over  the 
Second  church,  Oct.  25,  1790. 

"  Voted  to  invite  Mr.  Jabiz  Pond  Fisher  to  settle  with  us  in  the 
Ministry. — Then  Voted  him  settlement  and  sallery  just  as  was  voted 
to  Mr.  Chatman — with  the  addition  of  twenty  cords  of  wood 
annually." 

No  record  of  the  settlement  of  Jabiz  Pond  Fisher. 

April  12,  1793.  Voted  to  send  for  Mr.  Fish  to  supply  the  pulpit 
four  Sabbaths." 

Dec.  20,  1793.  "Voted  to  give  the  Rev.  Matthias  Cazier  a  call  to 
settle  in  the  Ministery  in  this  2''  Parish  of  Pelham.  Voted  to  give 
the  Rev.  Matthias  Cazier  iJ'ioo  Settlement  and  ^^65  and  20  cords  of 
wood  to  be  his  yearly  sallery." 

Mr.  Cazier  was  settled  over  the  church  and  parish.  The  new 
Meeting  house  was  still  unfinished  and  there  was  not  entire  harmony 
and  satisfaction  with  Mr.  Cazier,  as  the  very  grave  remonstrance 
presented  against  the  action  of  the  council  indicates. 

Action  of  the  remonstrants  to  calling  Mr.  Cazier,  from  the  church 
records. 

••  To  the  Rev'  Eccleseastical  Council  Convened  at  Pelham  Second  Parish 
for  tlie  purpose  of  introckicing  Mr.  Matthias  Cazier  into  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  Ministery  over  the  clnirch  and  people  in  this  place. 

Gentlemen  : — We  the  subscribers  belonging  to  said  parish  view  with  great 
concern  the  measures  taken  by  this  people  for  the  settlement  of  a  Gospel  Min- 
istry among  us  as  now  proposed  ;  we  as  individuals  remonstrate  against  the 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  273 

proceedings  of  both  Church  and  Parish  and  seriously  request  of  the 
Venerable  Council  that  they  will  not  be  active  in  supporting  the  gentleman 
proposed  to  the  work  of  the  Ministry  over  us  contrary  to  our  inclination 
and  remonstrance. 

Our  reasons  against  such  measures  are  the  following.  Viz  : 

1.  That  we  are  total  strangers  to  the  gentlemen's  character  and  know 
not  whether  it  is  religious  or  moral. 

2.  The  church  and  parish  we  consider  to  have  been  hasty  and  premature 
in  their  invitation  of  him  to  a  settlement  before  the  people  would  have 
convenient  opportunity  to  cultivate  such  an  acquaintance  with  him  as  to 
form  a  satisfactory  opinion  respecting  him. 

3.  We  are  by  no  means  agreed  with  Mr.  Matthias  Cazier  in  religious 
sentiment  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn  them  from  his  public  preach- 
ing the  few  Sabbaths  he  has  been  with  us,  and  desire  to  have  no  such 
public  teacher  placed  over  us  the  tendency  of  whose  instructions  we  con- 
cieve  to  be  subversive  of  all  morahty. 

4.  The  conduct  of  Mr.  Matthias  Cazier  on  all  matters  relative  to  his 
settlement  among  us  has  been  so  opinionalive  and  dictatorial  as  to  give  us 
grounds  to  apprehend  that  he  is  not  possessed  of  that  spiritual  prudence 
which  is  requisite  in  a  gospel  minister,  and  of  a  Soverign  disposition  to 
Lord  it  over  God's  heritage. 

The  above.  Gentlemen,  is  sufficient  to  convey  our  sentiments  respecting 
Mr.  Matthias  Cazier:  we  earnestly  desire  to  have  a  gospel  minister  settled 
among  us  whose  religious  sentiments  are  similar  to  our  own  :  and  will  cheer 
fully  unite  with  this  parish  in  the  choice  and  settlement  of  such  a  gentlemen 
when  Providence  shall  open  a  door  for  it. 

But  permit  us  to  assure  your  venerable  council  that  if  this  man  is  settled 
amongst  us  we  will  take  the  earliest  opportunity  to  petition  the  general  assem- 
bly of  this  Commonwealth  that  agreeably  to  the  Constitution  of  this  state  we 
may  severally  be  annexed  to  those  towns  upon  the  religious  institutions  of 
which  we  can  conscientiously  and  profitably  attend. 

We  are  with  greatest  respect,  Gentlemen,  your  friends  and  servants. 

William  Conkey,  Alexander  Conkey,  Wm.  Cowan,  Thomas 
CoNKEY,  Joseph  Aiken,  Daniel  Gray,  Joel  Conkey,  Samuel  Sloan. 
Pelham,  March  23'',  1794. 

A  true  copy  of  the  original.     Attest 

Reuben  Moss,  Scribe.'' 

Rev.  Reuben  Moss  was  the  pastor  of  the  church  in  Ware  and  was 
doubtless  present  as  pastor  of  his  church  at  the  council  convened 
for  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cazier,  and  as  scribe,  made  the  copy 
of  the  remonstrance. 

May  9,  1794.  "  Voted  to  take  away  the  south  poarch  from  the 
Meeting  house  and  finish  the  place  where  it  stands.  Voted  to  make 
an  alteration  on  the  north  side  pews  in  the  Meeting  house  to  have 
an  Elder  seat.     Voted  to  have  a  hunge  cannapy." 


2  74  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

March  30,  1795.  "Voted  to  remit  Capt.  Daniel  Siiays  rates  for 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Cazier." 

March  28,  1796.  "  Voted  to  call  a  council  to  decide  the  difficul- 
ties between  the  parish  and  Mr.  Cazier,  also  voted  for  the  parish  to 
chuse  a  committee  to  request  Mr.  Cazier  to  join  with  the  church  in 
calling  a  Mutual  Council  to  try  the  charges  that  have  been  brought 
against  Mr.  Cazier." 

That  the  matters  which  were  troubling  the  good  people  of  the 
second  parish  at  this  time  may  be  better  understood  we  copy  from 
the  church  records  the  charges  of  Dr.  Hinds  against  Rev.  Matthias 
Cazier  over  his  own  signature. 

"To  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Pelham,  East  Parish  : — 

The  subscriber  as  Plaintiff  exhibits  the  following  complaints  as  matter  of 
grievance  against  the  Moral  Character  of  the    Reverend  Matthias  Cazier. 

He  considers  the  following  articles  as  what  may  be  confirmed  by  legal 
evidence  and  as  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God, — what  he  would  wish  to  sub- 
mit to  the  judgement  and  decision  of  the  Church. 

The  articles  of  aggrievance  are  as  follows.  Viz  : 

I.  A  disregard  to  the  truth,  repeatedly,  first  in  declaring  previous  to  his 
installation  that  he  would  give  up  his  settlement  whenever  he  should  be 
dissmissed  from  Pelham,  if  the  Council  judged  he  was  in  the  blame,  and  at 
another  time  denying  that  he  ever  made  such  a  promise. 

Secondly. — his  reporting  that  he  had  sent  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Cazier  that  he 
should  set  out  from  Pelham  to  Castleton  on  the  i2''>  day  of  May,  and  then 
saying  that  if  he  did  not  set  out  on  the  5"'  of  May  in  the  same  year,  he 
should  dissappoint  Mrs.  Cazier  and  fail  of  being  at  the  s<'  CasUeton  at  the 
time  he  had  sent  to  her  in  the  above  s'^  letter. 

Thirdly. — In  representing  and  declaring  that  his  great  opposer  Reuben 
Marston  of  Castleton  had  manifested  that  he  had  wronged  him,  and  made 
retraction  for  it  which  is  not  a  truth. 

Fourthly. —  In  falling  from  a  bargain  he  made  with  me  to  procure  him 
lumber  for  his  house. 

Fifthly.— In  declaring  that  he  believed  only  a  less  part  of  Creation  would 
be  saved,  and  afterwards  denying  that  he  ever  said  a  less  part  would  be 
saved  but  the  greater  part. 

Sixthly.— Profaneness.  In  saying  that  he  would  not  pray  for  the  Rever- 
end Mr.  Williams  of  Leveritt  because  lie  was  in  error;  but  if  he  did  he  must 
pray  as  the  other  man  did. — O  Lord!     Damn  such  damnable  doctrines. 

Neh'h  Hinds." 

Meeting,  April  6,  1797.  Chose  parish  officers  etc.  "  Voted  to 
have  a  dog  whipper — choose  John  Gray  Dog  Whipper  by  giving 
four  mills. 

Voted  to  invite  a  number  of  Ministers   to   consult   and   advise  the 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES. 


75 


parish  under  their  present  difficulties. — Voted  to  invite  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Blodgett  of  Greenwich,  the  Rev.  Andrew  OHver  of  Pelham, 
the  Rev.  David  Parsons  of  Amherst  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Holt  of 
Hardwick  for  s''  Advisers." 

Thomas  Gray,  Robert  Crossett  and  Dr.  Hinds  was  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  present  the  case  to  the  four  ministers  and  they  heard  the 
case  of  the  parish  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  April  1797  at  the  house 
of  Dr.  Hinds.  May  3,  '97  the  parish  voted  to  ask  the  church  to  call 
a  mutual  council  before  which  the  difficulties  might  be  brought  for 
final  decision,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  lay  the  case  before  the 
council,  and  also  instructed  to  provide  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
of  the  council  which  was  to  convene  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Hinds,  and 
which  they  desired  to  have  conv^ene  before  the  first  of  July. 

The  church  made  answer  to  the  request  for  a  mutual  council  by 
letter  to  the  committee  of  the  parish,  a  copy  of  which  follows. 

The  reply  of  the  Church  to  the  demand  of  the  Parish  for  a  council 
to  examine  into  the  charges  against  Rev.  Matthias  Cazier  by  Dr. 
Nehemiah  Hinds. 

'•  Pelham,  May  5,  1797. 
To  the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  2^  Parish  in  Pelham : 

To  Doctor  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Mr.  William  Berry  and  Mr.  William 
McMillen,  a  committee  chosen  by  the  2^  Parish  of  Pelham  who  applied  to 
us  by  their  letter  dated  May  3'',  1797,  to  call  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  for 
the  purpose  of  examining  into  certain  difficulties  which  the  said  Parish  may 
have  with  their  Pastor  : — 

Gentlemen. — This  church  beg  leave  to  inform  you  that  they  feel  in  duty 
bound  in  chusing  and  calling  an  Ecclesiastical  Council,  to  abide  by  the 
principles  upon  which  Mr.  Cazier  was  settled  in  this  place. — We  also  inform 
you  that  we  are  willing  to  join  with  the  Rev.  Matthias  Cazier  in  chusing  a 
Mutual  Council,  one  half  to  be  chosen  by  this  church  and  the  other  half  of 
the  Council  to  be  chosen  by  Mr.  Cazier, — for  the  purpose  of  looking  into 
our  Difficulties  and  bringing  them  to  a  final  issue. 

Whenever  the  Parish,  individuals  of  the  Parish,  or  an  individual,  will 
bring  in  a  written  complaint  to  the  Church  against  our  pastor,  signed  by 
•those  who  will  engage  to  support  it, — and  give  the  names  of  two  or  more 
witnesses  for  the  support  of  each  charge  in  the  complaint,  and  that  the 
Parisli  shall  vote  Money  for  the  support  of  said  Council  when  convened, — 
then  the  Church  will  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  council,  and  send  letters 
.Missive  to  Churches  which  may  be  called  to  by  their  pastor  and  delegates 
to  the  house  of  Doctor  Nehemiah  Hinds. — at  a  time  which  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  Church  when  they  shall  send  letters  for  a  council. 

Wishing  that  our  present  conduct  may  be  influential  to  our  mutual  good. 
We  remain  yours  affectionately, 

By  order  of  the  Church, 

Matthias  Cazier,  Moderator, 
James  McMillex,  Clerk  of  the  Church. 
A  true  copy  from  the  original, 

James  C.  McMillen.  Clerk  of  the  Church." 


276  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

The  letter  of  the  church  concerning  the  mutual  council  was  not 
satisfactory  to  the  parish  and  a  vote  was  passed  not  to  accept  it.  It 
was  also  "  Voted  that  all  that  are  willing  to  enjoy  Mr.  Cazier  as  their 
minister  may  have  that  privelige  and  all  that  are  not  go  where  they 
please." 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Parish  May  9,  1797  John  Maklam  was 
chosen  to  present  the  answer  of  the  church  to  Rev.  David  Parsons 
of  Amherst  for  his  consideration  and  for  him  to  pass  judgment  upon 
the  same.  Rev.  Joseph  Blodgett  of  Greenwich  was  also  invited  to 
review  the  answer  of  the  church  to  the  parish. 

Whatever  the  advice  of  the  two  eminent  ministers  may  have  been 
is  not  stated,  but  the  parish  "Voted  May  11"'  to  accept  the  answer 
or  terms  of  the  Church,  except  the  word  engage,  and  the  granting  of 
money." 

Letters  Missive  were  sent  out  and  the  Council  was  called  on  the 
14th  of  June,  1797,  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Hinds  to  consider  his 
charges.  No  record  of  the  action  of  the  Council  is  found,  but  at  a 
parish  Meeting  held  July  3,  1797  it  was  "Voted  that  the  result  of 
Council  should  be  read. — Also  voted  to  accept  the  result  of  the 
Council." 

Meeting  Feb.  21,    1798. 

"  Dr.  Hinds  moderator.  — Motioned  and  seconded  that  all  those  that 
are  not  for  Mr.  Cazier  as  their  Minister  under  present  existing  circum- 
stances to  move  to  the  west  end  of  the  Meeting  house  and  also 
twenty-nine  moved  to  the  west  end  of  the  Meeting  house,  which  was 
the  whole  of  the  voters  present." 

This  would  indicate  that  the  council  of  June  14,  1797  did  not 
reconcile  the  people  to  Mr.  Cazier.  There  was  a  council  called  on 
March  14,  1798  which  voted  to  dismiss  Mr  Cazier,  after  hearing  the 
facts.  Rev.  David  Parsons  of  Amherst  was  moderator  and  Rev. 
Thomas  Holt  scribe.  The  council  in  their  report  reviewed  the 
troubles  of  parish  and  pastor  at  length,  and  the  vote  for  dismission 
was  unanimous,  after  giving  good  advice  to  the  church,  pastor  and 
parish. 

However  injudicious  and  imprudent  Mr.  Cazier  may  have  been  as 
pastor  of  the  second  church  in  Pelham  he  was  evidently  a  man  of 
much  ability,  a  fine  penman,  and  wrote  in  a  pointed  yet  respectful 
manner  in  his  address  to  the  church  which  follows  : 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  277 

"  Pelham,  April  25,  1796. 

An  address  to  the  Church  of  Christ  in  the  2'  Parish  in  Pelham. 

Dearly  Beloved  Brethrex  : — As  I  consider  the  sole  right  of  impeach- 
ing my  character  is  invested  in  you, — I  shall  always  view  your  conduct 
as  justifiable,  in  making  use  of  all  the  light  which  can  come  to  you  by  any 
means,  in  order  to  see  whether  my  character  deserves  impeachment. — I  also 
consider  that  you  are  under  an  obligation  by  your  own  articles,  as  well  as 
by  the  general  laws  of  Christ, — to  attend  to  creditable  reports  existing 
against  the  character  of  any  of  your  members. — I  would  beg  leave  also  to 
observe  that  all  reports  have  some  degree  of  credit  until  experience  shall 
determine  you  to  conclude  that  any  person,  who  makes  a  report,  has  done 
that,  which  in  your  view  ought  to  destroy  the  credit  of  his  reports. — Under 
a  sense  of  your  duty  to  be  a  city  set  upon  a  hill — I  would  observe, — that 
whereas  I  have  heard  a  report — that  Mr.  David  Wait  has  intimated  in  a 
Parish  Meeting  that  he  has  a  difficulty  with  me.  Therefore  I  would  request 
that  you  would  take  such  a  method  as  your  wisdom  shall  direct  to  search 
into  the  nature  of  his  difficulty  and  the  evidence  which  Mr.  Wait  has  to 
convince  you  that  he  has  a  just  foundation  for  the  difficulty.  I  would  also 
observe  that  it  would  discover  partiality  in  you  in  favor  of  me  to  presume 
that  Mr.  Wait  would  give  the  most  distant  hint  in  a  publick  manner, — 
that  he  was  burdened  with  me,  without  being  always  ready  to  give  you 
sufficient  evidence,  that  his  burden  is  justly  founded. 

Therefore  proper  respect  to  Mr.  Wait  requires  you  to  make  enquiry 
into  his  difficulty  and  the  evidence  which  he  may  give  to  convince  you  that 
he  ought  to  have  the  difficulty. 

I  am  Dear  Brethren  Yours 

in  the  fellowship  of  the  Gospel, 

Matthias  Cazier." 

Meeting  April   17,   1798. 

The  church  and  parish  being  destitute  of  a  settled  pastor,  Daniel 
Gray,  Wm.  McMillen,  Wm.  Berry,  Robert  Crossett  and  James  Linsey 
was  chosen  a  committee  to  supply  the  pulpit  and  another  long  term 
without  a  settled  pastor  began.  "April  13.  1801  it  was  voted  that 
the  sexton  shall  be  the  lowest  bidder,  and  was  struck  off  to  Jonathan 
Millen  for  $1.23.  He  is  to  repair  the  windows  by  putting  into  them 
nine  squares  of  glass,  and  sweep  the  Meeting  house  once  if  no 
preaching  and  four  times  if  preaching.  Chose  Doc't  Hinds  and 
Capt.  Millen  Dog  Whippers.  Voted  to  have  a  candidate  to  preach 
in  this  parish.  Voted  the  place  for  the  candidate  should  be  the 
Lowest  bidder  and  was  struck  off  to  Jonathan  Millen  for  8s — 3d  per 
week  for  Boarding  him  and  keeping  his  horse."  In  1802  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  converse  with  Mr.  Tobey  on  terms  of  settle- 
ment but  there  is  no  record  of  Mr.  Tobey  being  settled.     Mr.   Sebas- 


278  HISTORY    OF    I'ELHAM,     MASS. 

tian  C.  Cabbot  was  engaged  to  preach  three  months,  m  October,  1806, 
and  he  continued  to  preachfor  sometime;  $150  was  votedforhis  supj^ort 
in  December  of  that  year,  "  on  condition  that  Mr.  Sebastian  (aljbot 
shall  have  the  privilege  to  be  Dismist  in  one  year  after  giving  notice 
to  the  parish  that  he  was  dissatisfied  by  lodging  his  reasons  in  the 
Clerk's  office  ;  and  whenever  a  Majority  of  the  Inhabitants  shall 
vote  against  him  as  minister  by  a  Dissatisfaction  of  his  Moral 
Carricter  he  shall  be  Dismist  in  one  year  after  being  notified  of 
such  Vote."     The  time  was  afterwards  changed  to  six  months. 

March  27,  1S07.  "Voted  that  the  Ecclesiastical  Council  now 
convened  shall  go  on  and  settle  Mr  Sebastian  C.  Cabbot  to  the 
work  of  the  Gospel  Ministry,  etc."  At  the  same  meeting  the  parish 
voted  "  Fifthly  for  the  parish  to  act  and  pass  all  such  votes  as  shall 
be  thought  necessary  to  keep  peice  and  harmony  with  themselves 
and  the  world  of  Mankind." 

August  21,  1809.  ''Voted  to  Join  with  the  Church  to  agree  with 
Mr.  Sabastian  Cabbot  to  call  a  mutual  council  for  his  dismission." 
Mr.  Cabbot  was  dismissed  but  probably  not  until  February,  1810. 
No  record  of  the  work  of  the  council  is  found  on  the  parish  records. 

The  people  were  without  a  pastor  again  and  dependent  upon  com- 
mittees to  supply  the  pulpit. 

The  records  speak  of  negotiations  with  the  West  Parish  for  the 
mutual  support  of  the  Gospel  as  early  as  18 16,  and  these  negotiations 
were  continued  from  time  to  time  by  both  parishes  but  there  is  no 
record  found  of  their  joining  in  the  good  workup  to  the  time  Prescott 
was  set  off  as  a  town  in  1S22. 

The  name  of  Rev.  Mr.  Marcy  appears  in  a  way  to  indicate  that  he 
preached  for  the  Second  Parish  in  18  16. 

Rev.  Mr.  Cazier  was  settled  early  in  1794  and  dismissed  March 
14,  1798,  after  a  pastorate  of  four  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Cabbot  was 
settled  in  1807  and  the  pastoral  relation  was  ended  in  1S09,  so  that 
for  only  about  six  years  did  the  people  of  the  second  parish  have  a 
settled  ministry  from  1786  to  1822,  a  period  of  36  years.  Besides 
the  two  ministers  that  were  settled  we  find  personal  mention  of  only 
a  few  ministers  of  the  many  that  must  have  preached  there  during 
the  period  named.  Rev.  Mr.  Chatman,  Rev.  Jabiz  Pond  Fisher, 
Rev.  Mr.  Fish,  Rev.  Mr.  Marcy,  Rev.  Mr.  Tobey,  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Moss  are  all  the  records  make  mention  of  as  supplyers  of  the  pulpit, 
when  there  was  no  settled  minister.  A  Congregational  church  was 
organized  in  Prescott  in  place  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  1823. 


religious  societies.  279 

Confession  of  Faith  and  Eng-agements  of  the    East    Church 

IN  Pelham. 

"Whereas  in  divine  Providence  we  are  formed  into  a  Society  by  ourselves,, 
we,  to  promote  the  worship  of  God,  the  interest  of  the  Redeemer,  and  our 
Mutual  Editication  thereto  under  Christ  as  our  Head  in  one  church  by  the 
Name  of  the  East  Church  in  l^elham.  In  testimony  of  our  Union,  Faith 
and  Fellowship,  we  adopt  the  following  Confession  of  Faith  and  Engage- 
ments. 

1.  We  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  to  be  the 
Word  of  God  and  the  only  rule  of  P^aith  and  Manners. 

2.  We  own  and  believe  the  Doctrines  contained  in  the  Westminister 
Confession  of  Faith  approved  by  the  Church  of  Scotland,  to  be  founded 
upon  the  Word  of  God,  and  we  acknowledge  the  same  as  the  Confession  of 
our  faith,  and  we  will  firmly  and  constantly  adhere  thereto,  assert,  maintain,- 
and  defend  the  same  to  the  utmost  of  our  Power  and  Ability. 

3.  We  are  persuaded  that  the  Presbyterian  Government  and  Discipline 
of  the  Church  of  Christ  as  have  been  practiced  in  the  Church  of  Scotland, 
are  founded  upon  the  Word  of  God,  and  agreeable  thereto,  and  we  promise 
to  submit  to  the  Said  Government  and  Discipline,  and  to  concur  with  the 
same  and  endeavor  to  maintain,  to  support  and  defend  tliesaid  Presbyterian 
Government  and  Discipline  as  far  as  our  position  and  Circumstances  will- 
admit  thereof. 

4.  We  promise  and  engage  to  do  our  endeavor  to  maintain  the  Peace  and 
Unity  of  the  Church,  the  Worship  of  God,  the  honor  of  Christ  and  the 
interest  of  his  Kingdom  according  to  our  respective,  Places  and  Relations. 

5.  We  promise  and  engage  as  fellows  citizens  with  the  Saints,  and  of  the 
Household  of  God,  Constantly  and  perseveringly  to  walk  together  in  all  the 
ordinances  of  Christ's  house  and  in  all  the  Precepts  of  his  holy  religion,  to 
pray  for  one  another,  and  to  watch  over  one  another,  not  for  our  halting,, 
but  for  our  mutual  good  unto  the  edification  of  the  Body  of  which  we  are 
joint  members. 

Moses  Gray,  Aaron  Gray,  Daniel  Gray, 

James  C.  McMillen       John  Linsey,  Patrick  McMillen, 

John  Ha.milton,  John  McMillen,  Alexander  Berry, 

William  Berry,  Thomas  McMillen." 

The  Persons  belonging  to  the  Church  in  the  Second  Parish  when 
it  was  incorporated  we  learn  from  a  paper  bearing  the  names  in  the 
Volume  of  Ancient  Church  records,  and  which  is  carefully  copied. 

'•  .A  List  of  the  Members  both  male  and  female  of  the  Church  of  Christ, 
in  the  Second  Parish  in  Pelham, — you  are  to  observe  the  Men's  Names  are 
taken  down  and  their  wives  Names  in  one  line. 

The  Names  of  Men  whose  wives  have  joined  the  church  and  they  have 
not  are  set  against  their  wives  Names. 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Mens  Names 
Deacon  Patrick  McMillen, 
Deacon  Daniel  Gray. 
Aaron  Gray, 
Moses  Gray, 
Alexander  Berry, 
James  C.  .McMillen, 
William  Berry, 
John  McMillen, 


Isaac  Baker. 


Mary  McMillen, 

Mary  Gray, 

Ruth  (iray — Isabel  Gray. 


Martha  Berry, 
Sarah  McMillen, 
Naomi  Berry, 
Mary  McMillen, 
W^'  Rebacah  Maklem, 
Eunice  Sloan, 
Abigail  Shays, 
Rebeccah  I5aker, 
W''  Mary  Linsey, 
W''  Anne  Linsey 


Jeremiah  Gray 
James  Linsey 


William  Linsey, 
Joel  Gray, 
Isreal  Crosett, 


Mary  Ann  Linsey, 
Alice  Willson, 
Sarah  Crosett, 
Susannah  Linsey, 
Martha  Gray, 
Martha  Crosett, 
Lyda  Gray, 
Jean  McMillen, 


Samuel  .Sloan, 
Capt.  Daniel  Shays, 


William  Willson, 
Arcliibald    Crosett, 


Thomas  Gray, 
Wm.  McMillen." 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Matthias  Cazier,  Capt.  Joel  Gray  was 
in  command  of  one  of  the  Militia  companies,  and  William  Linsey  a 
member  of  the  Company  and  also  a  member  of  the  Second  Church 
became  intoxicated  on  training  day, — was  sorry  for  it,  and  made  a 
confession  which  we  copy.  It  is  undoubtedly  the  composition  of  Mr. 
Cazier  and  in  his  handwriting,  and  probably  expressed  the  erring 
one's  sense  of  sin  and  need  of  forgiveness  much  better  than  he  could 
have  done  it  himself. 

"  Pelham,  Oct.  15.  1797. 

To  the  Church  of  Christ  of  the  Second  Parish  of  Pelham,  under  tiie  care 
■of  Rev''*  Matthias  Cazier, — from  William  Linsey  a  member  of  said  Church: 

Beloved  Brethren  : — As  on  last  Monday,  at  the  Meeting  of  Capt.  Joel 
Gray"  Company,  I  was  overtaken  with  the  drinking  of  more  Spirituous 
liquor  than  my  nature  could  bare,  and  thus  by  my  conduct  I  liave  given 
an  occasion  to  my  fellow  men  to  speak  reproachfully  of  the  Christian  Cause 
of  which  I  am  an  unworthy  professor.  Therefore  I  think  it  my  duty  to 
acknowledge  my  offence  in  a  public  manner.  Therefore  I  now  confess  with 
shame  and  sorrow  that  I  am  guilty  of  the  sin  of  intoxication, — and  I  pray 
God  against  whom  I  have  sinned  that  he  would,  for  the  sake  of  the  Lord 
Jesus    Christ,  pardon  my   great  offense,    and   preserve  me  for   the   future 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  281 

from  this  and  all  other  kinds  of  sins.     I   ask   also   the   forgiveness  of  all 
whom  I  have  offended  by  my  sin. — 

I  desire  brethren,  that  you  would  accept  of  this  my  confession,  and  that 
you  would  pray  for  me,  that  God  would,  in  mercy,  overrule  my  past  sins  to 
his  own  glory,  the  good  of  his  cause,  the  good  of  this  church  and  the  good 
of  him  who  now  confesses  his  sin. — That  it  would  please  God,  by  his  grace 
to  preserve  from  falling  again  into  sin. —  I  remain,  Dear  brethren,  your 
unworthy  brother,  but  sincere  in  the  faith  and  fellowship  of  the  Gospel. 

Wm.  Linsey." 

This  confession  was  read  in  public  and  accepted  by  tlie  Church, 
October  15,  1797. 

Jeremiah  Gray  became  prejudiced  against  Rev.  Mr.  Cazier,  took 
action  against  him,  and  absented  himself  from  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper.  He  acknowledged  his  error  sorrowfully.  The  con- 
fession of  his  error  and  sin  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Cazier  and 
Mr.  Gray  affixed  his  signature  to  the  document. 

"  Pelham,  May  20"',  1797. 

To  the  Church  of  Christ  of  the  Second  Parish  of  Pelham  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev'^  Matthias  Cazier  from  Jeremiah  Gray  a  member  of 
said  Church. 

Beloved  Brethren  — As  my  voluntarily  absenting  myself  from  the 
communion  with  the  church,  the  last  time  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper  was  administered  in  this  place,  is  well  known  both  to  the  church  and 
congregation. — I  feel  myself  in  duty  bound  to  make  Christian  satisfaction 
for  my  great  offense  against  God. 

Therefore  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  before  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion,— That  I  am  guilty  of  breaking  covenant  with  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
this  place. — I  also  acknowledge  with  shame  and  sorrow  for  mv  sin.  that  I 
have  indulged  an  unreasonable  prejudice  against  our  Pastor,  and  wickedly 
made  his  sin  my  excuse  for  committing  the  sin  of  breaking  covenant  with  you. 

I  pray  the  Lord  to  forgive  my  sins  through  the  blood  of  that  glorious 
Redeemer,  Jesus  Christ,  whose  cause  I  feel  I  have  wounded. — I  desire  for- 
giveness of  you  the  Church  of  Christ  in  this  place,  to  whom  I  have  given  a 
just  occasion  of  being  offended. — I  desire  forgiveness  of  our  Rev"*  Pastor, 
and  I  desire  forgiveness  of  all  whom  I  have  offended  by  my  sins, —  I  desire 
brethren,  that  you  will  receive  me  as  a  returning  prodigal,  into  your  Christ- 
ian embrace,  and  that  you  would  pray  for  me,  that  God  would  in  mercy, 
overule  my  past  sins  to  his  own  glory,  the  good  of  his  cause,  the  good 
of  this  church,  and  the  good  of  him  who  now  confesses  his  sins. 

That  it  would  please  God  by  his  grace  to  preserve  me  from  falling  again 
into  sin.— I  remain  Dear  brethren  your  unworthy  brother,  but  sincere  in  the 
faith  and  fellowship  of  the  Gospel. 

Jeremiah  Gray." 


•282  history  of  pelha.m,  mass. 

Records  of  Church  at  Pelham  Center    from    1822    to    1897. 
Calvinistic  Church  Organized  in   1822. 

From  recently  discovered  records  of  the  church  at  Pelham  Center 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  W'inthrop  Bailey. 

Record  of  Church  Meeting  April  4.    1822. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  notified  and  held  for  the  purpose  the 
following  measure  was  unanimously  adopted. 

"  As  the  members  of  this  church  entertain  different  views  of  some  doctrines 
which  all  regard  as  important ;  and  as  some  of  the  Members  are  desirous  on 
this  account  of  constituting  a  church  by  themselves,  that  they  may  enjoy 
christian  ordinances  in  a  way  consistent  with  their  own  views  of  truth  and 
Duty:  tlierefore — Voted  that  with  feelings  of  Friendship  and  Goodwill 
towards  each  other,  and  without  aspersing  or  implying  any  censure  on  either 
part,  we  do  now  separate  into  two  distinctand  independent  churches  :  the  one 
to  be  known  as  the  Congregational  church  and  the  other  as  the  Calvinistic 
Church  in  Pelham,  and  we  request  so  to  be  regarded  by  our  sister  churches  ; 
and  also  the  Table  furniture  shall  be  held  in  common  and  be  equally  for  the 
use  of  both. 

Attest,  Wixthrop  Bailey,  Moderator. 
A  true  copy  of  Church  Records.  Attest,  \V.  IjAilev. 
Pelham,  April  11.  1S22." 

"At  a  meeting  of  certain  members  of  the  church  not  adhering  to 
the  change  of  sentiment  taken  place  in  the  Rev.  W'inthrop  Bailey" 
.  action  was  begun. 

Letters  Missive  were  sent  out  by  John  Rankin  Jr.  and  William 
Oliver  to  Rev'd  Messers  Crosby  of  Enfield,  Perkins  of  Amherst  and 
Woodbridge  of  Hadley  to  "  meet  and  take  into  view  our  situation, 
and  if  they  think  proper,  to  organize  us  into  a  church  by  the  name 
of  the  Calvinstic  Church  in  Pelham."' 

These  letters  were  sent  out  May  21,  1S22. 

On  the  28th  of  the  same  month  the  three  ministers  met  at  the 
house  of  John  Rankin  Jr.  A  statement  of  facts  was  made  by  the 
"Independent  ]h-ethren  "  to  the  above  named  elders,  and  upon  the 
statements  made  to  the  elders,  they  judged  it  expedient  to  advise 
that  a  church  to  be  known  as  the  Calvinistic  church  of  Pelham  be 
organized.  At  4  o'clock  of  the  same  day  they  proceeded  to  the  old 
meeting  house  and  organized  the  church  agreeable  to  the  vote. 
Rev.  Joshua  Crosby  was  Moderator  and  Rev.  Nathan  Perkins 
Scribe. 


'ELHAM    CENTER    FROM    THE    SOU 


DAISIES    AMONG   THE   GRAVES. — OLD   BURYING   GROUND. 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  283 

Articles  of  Faith  and  a  form  of  Covenant  were  drawn  up  and 
adopted. 

Organized  Members  of  the    Calvinistic    Church    of    Pelham. 

Ebenezer  Gray,  Agnes  Gray, 

William  Oliver,  Anne  Rankin, 

John  Rankin,  Betsey  Gray, 

James  Rankin,  Hannah  Millen, 

Ezra  Lee,  Mary  Lee, 

John  Gray,  Diana  Ingalls, 

John  Millen,  Mary  Cook, 

John  Rankin  Jr.,  Mary  Dunlap, 
Oliver  Hamilton, 
Samuel  Ingalls, 

John  Dunlap,  Polly  Rankin, 

Levi  Crafford,  Patty  Crafford. 

The  following  persons  were  admitted  after  the  church  was  organ- 
ized as  per  dates  : 

June  30.  1S22.  Sarah  Gray,  Cynthia  Rankin.  Anna  Hamilton,  Betsey 
Hamilton. 

May  iS,  1823.  Silas  Rankin,  Sally  Rankin,  Susanna  Cowan,  Margerett 
Thompson. 

Jan.  I.  1S23.     Clarissa  Boyden. 

Nov.  6,  1825.     Thankful  Turner. 

July  6,  1S25.     John  Gray  z'\  William  Oliver. 

Oct.  28,  1827.     Sylvia  Hamilton,  Hannah  Conkey. 

With  the  above  records  of  admissions  the  history  of  the  Calvinistic 
church  as  organized  in  1822  ends. 

It  seems  the  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey  was  charged  with  a  "  change  of 
sentiment,"  by  those  that  organized  the  "Calvinistic  Church,"  which 
probably  means  that  Mr.  Bailey  had  become  a  Congregationalist,  or 
more  liberal  in  his  views  than  was  pleasing  to  those  who  took  the 
name  of  Calvniists.  Who  preached  for  the  Calvinistic  church  does 
not  appear  from  the  record,  but  it  is  certain  that  Mr.  Bailey  was  not 
dismissed  until  1825  and  must  have  preached  to  all  that  were  left 
after  the  organization  of  the  Calvinistic  church. 

During  the  period  from  1827  to  1837  there  was  a  great  decline  in 
religious  observances ;  there  seems  to  have  been  no  stated  preaching 
in  the  old  meeting  house  by  any  church  organization.  It  was  during 
this  period  that  the  Methodists  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  John 
Stoddard  gained  a  standing  in  the  town  by  holding  services  in  the  old 
meeting  house  in  1831  and  later. 


284  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Possibly  Rev.  Luther  Smith  and  Rev.  L.  A.  Spofford  may  have 
preached  sometime  previous  to  1837  but  no  records  are  found. 

The  state  of  affairs,  as  pretaining  to  religious  organization  and 
observance  is  stated  in  a  record  of  Oct.  26,  1837. 

"  The  original  Congregational  and  Calvinistic  churches  in  this  Place 
having  been  disbanded  for  years,  and  the  regular  ordinances  of  the 
Gospel  not  enjoyed." — 

Rev.  William  Tyler,  a  relative  of  Prof.  W.  S.  Tyler  of  Amherst, 
and  settled  at  South  Hadley,  became  interested  in  Pelham  and  was 
instrumental  in  organizing  the  church  and  society. 

An  ecclesiastical  council  was  called  at  the  house  of  Nathaniel 
Pratt  at  Pelham  on  the  25th  of  October,  1837  ^^  response  to  letters 
missive  from  John'  Gray,  Henry  Walker,  Jonathan  Turner  and 
others.  Churches  in  Amherst,  Belchertown,  Prescott,  and  Enfield 
were  represented  by  pastor  and  delegate.  The  council  deemed  it 
advisable  to  organize  a  church  and  the  name  adopted  was  the 
Evangelical  Congregational  church  of  Pelham. 

Articles  of  faith  and  covenant  were  adopted.     The  following  person 
subscribed  thereto  and  were  duly  organized  into  a  distinct  church  : 
John  (iray,  Sarah  Thompson,  Clarissa  Boyden, 

Jonathan  Turner,  Livia  Gold,  Charlotte  Eaton, 

Betsey  Gray,  Nancy  Packard,  Hannah  Conkey, 

Eliza  Turner,  Mary  Dunlap,  Francis  Eaton, 

Sally  Kingman,  Mary  Walker,  Lydia  Wood, 

Anne  M.  Kingman,  Betsey  Smith,  Mary  Conkey, 

Mary  Hayden. 

After  the  council  had  organized  the  church, — there  being  no  settled 
pastor  it  was  proposed  that  a  standing  moderator  be  chosen,  and 
Rev.  Nathan  Perkins  of  Amherst  Second  church  was  chosen,  and 
John  Gray  was  also  chosen  to  act  when  Mr.  Perkins  could  not  be 
present.  Rev.  L.  A.  Spofford  was  acting  pastor  for  a  year  or  more 
after  the  organization  of  the  church  and  Daniel  Packard  was  clerk 
and  treasurer  in  1838.  It  was  in  connection  with  this  renewed 
interest  in  religious  matters  at  Pelham  the  Rev.  Frederick  Janes  was 
settled.  How  long  he  preached  is  not  known.  Then  the  movement 
was  made  for  a  new  church  building  and  the  work  was  begun  in 
1839,  Rev.  Nathan  Perkins  laying  the  corner  stone.  The  first 
child  baptized  in  the  new  church  was  Frances  Atessa  Eaton.  From 
the  records  of  the  Hampshire  East  Association  it  appears  that  Rev. 
A.  C.  Page  of  Pelham  was  a  member  of  that  body  in  1842,  but  there 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  285 

is  no  record  of  his  installation  at  Pelham,  yet  it  is  highly  prob- 
able that  Mr.  Page  was  installed  in  1842  or  1843,  and  continued  in 
charge  of  the  church  until  1850,  perhaps  longer.  In  185 1  a  new 
confession  of  faith  and  covenant  was  adopted.  Rev.  Samuel 
Wolcott  was  moderator  at  the  meeting. 

In  1855  Rev.  Zenas  Bliss  was  acting  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Witherell 
was  preacher  at  one  time,  also  Rev.  Mr.  Howard. 

The  above  is  nearly  all  there  is  of  record  concerning  the  church  at 
Pelham  center  for  some  years.  There  was  another  period  during 
which  there  was  little  religious  zeal,  and  the  organization  of  the 
church  was  again  broken  up.  Not  until  after  i860  was  much 
interest  manifested  in  church  and  parish  matters. 

July  I,  186 1,  Rev.  W.  H.  Dowden  came  to  Pelham  and  began  his 
labors  as  acting  pastor  of  the  church. 

In  March,  1862,  James  M.  Cowan,  a  native   of    the   town,  then  in 

business  at  the  hollow,   and   on   the   board   of   selectmen,    interested 

himself  in  the  reorganization  of  the  society.     A    petition,    addressed 

to  Judge  Ithamar  Conkey  of  Amherst,    was  drawn  up  and  signed  by" 

the  following  persons,   asking  for  a    warrant  under    which  to  hold  a 

meeting  for  organization  : 

James  M.  Cowan,  Lemuel  R.  Chapin,  Gilbert  G.  Hunt, 

Russell  Hildreth,  Wm.  B.  Dovvnins,  Joseph  R.  Hunt. 

W.  H.  Dowden,  Albert  A.  (irout^  Charles  H.  Taylor, 

Nathan  Canterberry,  Moses  L.  Ward,  Frederick  Dane, 

E.  S.  Richardson,  Milo  W.  Field,  John  Dane, 

John  B.  Davis,  Horace  Stacy,  Lyman  Jenks. 

April  8th,  1862,  the  organization  was  effected  with  the  following 
officers:  Clerk,  M.  W.  Field  ;  Treasurer,  W.  B.  Downing;  Executive 
Committee,  J.  M.  Cowan,  M.  L.  Ward,  L.  R.  Chapin,  E.  S.  Rich- 
ardson ;   Collector,  W.  B.  Downing. 

April  15th,  it  was  voted  to  engage  Rev.  W.  H.  Dowden  to  supply 
the  pulpit  for  the  year  ending  April  i,  1863. 

In  September  1862,  a  move  was  made  to  secure  a  bell  for  the 
church.  The  bell  was  purchased  and  presented  to  the  society  "  for 
its  use  so  long  as  the  society  sustains  evangelical  preaching  in  the 
meeting  house,  but  should  the  society  fail  to  do  this  for  the  term  of 
two  years,  the  bell  may  be  disposed  of  as  the  donors  may  direct." 

Names  of  doners : 

Ladies'  Sewing  Circle,  $25.00, 
E.  S.  Richardson.  $26.79, 


286  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

James  M.  Cowan,  $15.00, 
Luther  Chapin,  $5.00, 
Samuel  Williston,  )i?is.oo, 
J.  P.  Williston,  $25.00. 
J.  H.  Gamble,  $10.00, 
Wells  &  E.  Southworth,  $20.00, 
L.  M.  Hills  &  Son,  $10.00, 
Wm.  B.  Downing,  $5.00. 

The  bell  which  Lord  Pelham  is  said  to  have  donated  to  the  town 
in  response  to  the  honor  paid  him  in  giving  the  town  his  name  never 
was  received,  but  the  new  steel  bell  from  the  above  named  donors 
still  hangs  in  the  church  belfry,  and  its  clear  tones  can  be  heard 
across  the  great  hollow,  on  Prescott  Hill,  and  when  the  wind  is 
favorable  it  can  be  heard  at  the  western  border  of  the  town. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Dowden  was  very  successful  in  his  work  at  Pelham, 
from  the  first,  and  a  goodly  number  were  received  into  the  church 
by  letter,  and  May  6,  1862,  sixteen  persons  were  received  on  pro- 
fession of  faith  ;  these  additions  were  the  result  of  religious  interest 
the  previous  winter. 

Nov.  5,  1863,  Rev.  W.  H.  Dowden  was  ordained  and  installed 
over  the  church,  Rev.  Dr.  Eddy  of  Northampton  preaching  the  ser- 
mon. First  church  at  Northampton,  Amherst  Second  and  College 
church,  Prescott,  Belchertown,  New  Salem,  Enfield  and  Greenwich 
churches  being  represented. 

August  6,  1864,  Rev.  Mr.  Dowden  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Congregational  church  at  Carlyle.  Mass.  Was  dismissed  from 
the  church  at  Pelham  and  began  his  labors  at  Carlyle,  Sept.  i.  1864. 

Erom  1864  to  187 1  there  was  no  settled  minister.  On  the 
2ist  of  March,  1865,  instructions  were  given  to  employ  Rev. 
R.  D.  Miller  for  a  year,  and  for  two  years  after  Mr.  Millers'  service, 
Rev.  Matthew  Kingman  supplied  the  pulpit.  Rev.  William  K.  Vaille 
was  settled  over  the  Union  Church  at  Packardville  on  the  2Sth  of 
June  187 1  and  an  arrangement  was  entered  into  by  the  churches 
whereby  Mr.  Vaille  was  to  preach  Sunday  mornings  at  Packardville 
and  in  the  afternoon  at  Pelham  center.  Mr.  Vaille  preached  to  both 
churches  until  1887  when  he  resigned,  but  the  arrangement  has  been 
continued  until  now  under  various  acting  pastors,  being  for  the  most 
part  students  from  Amherst  College.  Their  names  will  be  found  in 
the  notice  of  the  Union  Church  at  Packardville. 


religious  societies.  287 

Quakers  or  Friends. 

Pelham  was  settled  by  Presbyterians  of  the  straightest  sect,  and 
the  Church  they  estabUshed  was  the  only  Church  organization  in 
town  until  the  second  parish  was  incorporated  in  1786  and  the 
"  East  Church  in  Pelham  "  was  organized,  and  this  church  also 
was  pledged  to  ''  maintain,  support  and  defend  Presbyterian  govern- 
ment and  discipline  " 

A  few  baptists  had  moved  into  town  as  well  as  a  few  Universalists 
and  Unitarians, — just  enough  to  complain  about  being  taxed  for  the 
support  of  the  Gospel  as  preached  by  the  Presbyterians,  and  not 
enough  to  support  a  church  organization  of  either  creed.  Eseck 
Cook,  a  Quaker,  came  to  Pelham  from  Cumberland  R.  I.  in  1806, 
and  he  was  instrumental  in  gathering  together  a  small  society  of  his 
faith  and  erecting  a  plain  one  storied  building  at  the  westerly 
part  of  the  town  for  use  as  a  house  of  worship,  and  it  was  always 
known  as  the  '•  Quaker  Meeting  I-iouse."  The  building  stood 
upon  the  edge  of  a  somewhat  level  tract  of  land  bordering  upon  the 
"  highway  leading  from  Amherst  to  Boston.  "  as  expressed  in  the 
deeds  of  the  property,  and  was  purchased  of  Samuel  Arnold  and 
deeded  by  him  and  Rhoda  his  wife  "  to  William  Bassett  of  Richmond, 
Cheshire  County,  N.  H.  Alice  Turner  and  Benjamin  Dexter  of 
Orange  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  for,  and  in 
behalf  of  the  Monthly  Meetings  of  the  People  called  Quakers, 
Known  by  the  name  of  the  Richmond  Monthly  Meeting."  There 
was  about  four  acres  of  land  sold  to  the  Quakers  March  12,  1808. 
On  this  lot  the  plain  Meeting  House  was  erected,  and  there  the 
Quakers  worshipped  in  their  quiet  way  for  many  years,  until  there 
were  but  few  left,  and  the  society  was  broken  up.  The  "  Monthly 
Meeting  "  continued  to  hold  the  property  until  "fourth  month,  fourth 
day,  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty  five  "  when  it  was  sold  to  Ziba  Cook 
for  $86.50  by  the  Uxbridge  Monthly  Meeting.  Edward  Earle  of 
Worcester,  Clerk,  acting  as  agent.  The  four  acres  of  land  had  one 
small  plot  in  which  the  Quakers  buried  their  dead,  and  the  deed  to 
Ziba  Cook  contains  the  following  reservation. 

"  Reserving  for  ever  a  right  of  passage  way  in  and  over  said  land 
to  the  graveyard  belonging  to  the  said  society  situated  in  the  rear  of 
said  lot  of  land,  which  graveyard  is  to  be  retained  for  the  use  of  said 
society,  and  is  not  intended  to  be  conveyed  by  this  instrument.  " 


258  HISTORY    OF    PELHA.M,     MASS. 

The  Quaker  Meeting  house,  brown  with  age  and  the  absence 
of  paint  stood  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  long  years  after  services  were 
entirely  suspended,  as  through  patiently  waiting  for  the  plainly  dressed 
demure  worshippers  to  return  but  they  never  came.  The  property 
was  sold  as  already  described  and  the  Old  Meeting  house  was 
turned  to  use  as  a  barn,  and  is  still  standing. 

Baptists  at  Packardville. 

In  1 83 1  a  petition  signed  by  a  number  of  persons  in  the  north 
part  of  Belchertown,  the  south  part  of  Pelham  and  the  north-west 
part  of  P2nfield  was  addressed  to  the  First  Baptist  church  of  Belcher- 
town asking  permission  to  organize  a  district  society  of  the  Baptist 
denomination  at  Packardville,  the  distance  from  Packardville  and 
vicinity  being  too  great  for  the  people  to  go  to  the  first  church  at 
Belchertown. 

The  request  of  the  petitioners  was  granted  and  a  society  organized, 
and  a  meeting  house  was  built  at  Packardville  not  long  after.  The 
society  was  quite  prosperous  for  perhaps  thirty  years  under  the  charge 
of  the  following  pastors :  Rev.  Messrs.  Bigelow,  Burt,  Vaughn, 
Smalledge,  Snell  and  Emerson  Hill,  and  then  there  was  a  decline  in 
the  work  and  services  by  the  Baptists  were  almost  if  not  entirely  sus- 
pended for  some  years,  or  until  there  was  a  movement  to  organize  a 
society  that  should  include  those  of  every  evangelic  faith  who  might 
be  living  in  the  neighborhood  from  which  the  Baptists  had  come, 
which  was  started  in  1868. 

The  Methodists. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1831  Rev.  Isaac  Stoddard,  a  member 
of  the  New  England  (,'onference  was  invited  to  Pelham  to  preach, 
and  he  came.  Other  Methodist  preachers  had  occasionally  preached 
in  town  before  Mr.  Stoddard  came  but  had  not  succeeded  in  making 
much  impression  in  favor  of  Methodism.  Mr.  Stoddard  was  well 
received,  as  at  that  time  there  was  no  stated  preaching  in  the  old 
Meeting  House  of  the  Presbyterians  except  now  and  then  by  a  few 
Unitarians,  and  Mr.  Stoddard  held  meetings  there.  x-Xs  a  result  of 
his  visit  to  Pelham  the  New  England  Conference  saw  fit  to  appoint 
Mr.  Stoddard  to  the  town  for  the  year  183 1  and  he  was  reappointed  for 
the  year  1832.  During  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Stoddard's  ministry  in 
Pelham  there  was  a  notable  revival  and  as  a  result  Methodism  secured 


UNION    CHLRCH.    PACKAHOVILLE. 


METHODIST    CHl'KCTl,    WKST    I'ELHAM. 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  289 

a  permanent  hold  upon  the  people  of  the  town,  and  the  members 
of  the  society  numbered  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  at  the 
close  of  Mr.  Stoddard's  labors. 

Rev.  John  Case  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Stoddard  in  this  field  of 
labor  and  was  with  the  new  society  one  year,  and  in  1S34  Rev.  Eras- 
tus  Otis  and  Rev.  William  Gordon  was  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  work.  Pelham  and  Greenwich  being  connected  by  the  confer- 
ence. In  1835  Rev.  O.  Robbins  were  appointed  to  take  charge  of 
the  Pelham  church  which  continued  to  increase  and  extend  its  use- 
fulness, but  in  the  second  year  of  Mr.  Robbins  pastorate  and  for 
several  years  following  there  was  a  visible  decline  in  the  prosperity 
of  the  society,  owing  to  prominent  members  leaving  town  for  more 
enterprising  places  of  business. 

Up  to  1S36  the  Methodists  had  occupied  the  Old  Meeting  House, 
— built  by  the  original  settlers  of  the  town  soon  after  purchasing  the 
tract  of  land  in  1738-9.  It  was  in  1836  that  the  first  movement  was 
made  towards  erecting  a  church  for  themselves,  but  it  was  not  suc- 
cessful, and  they  continued  to  occupy  the  old  meeting  house. 

Ill  I  S3  7  Rev.  James  O.  Dean  was  appointed  to  labor  with  this 
people.  He  was  continued  in  the  work  for  two  years.  Mr.  Dean 
was  an  earnest  worker  and  gave  his  best  efforts  to  build  up  the 
church.  He  reported  77  person's  names  on  society  or  class  papers 
when  he  commenced  his  labors  and  that  fourteen  or  fifteen  persons 
joined  the  society  during  the  two  years  of  his  labors,  yet  the  net  gain 
was  small  on  account  of  deaths  and  removals  from  town. 

Rev.  Mr.  Dean  was  a  much  beloved  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church 
of  Pelham  and  was  greatly  respected  by  the  people  of  the  town  gen- 
erally. The  earnestness  and  zeal  of  Mr.  Dean,  and  the  work  he 
accomplished  for  the  society  over  which  he  had  been  appointed  as 
pastor  for  two  years  led  to  the  expression  of  an  earnest  desire  for  a 
reappointment  and  the  conference  returned  him  to  the  Pelham  field 
in  1S43  and  1844.  It  was  while  giving  his  best  service  to  the  Meth- 
odist society  that  he  was  stricken  with  lung  fever  and  died.  He 
died  on  the  loth  of  October  1844,  and  was  buried  in  the  Valley 
Cemetery.  Perhaps  no  pastor  of  the  Methodist  church  was  more 
sincerely  mourned,  or  was  held  in  more  grateful  remembrance  than 
Mr.  Dean. 

The  effort  to  build  a  meeting  house  once  abandoned  or  postponed 


290  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

was  renewed  in  1838  and  during  the  following  years  the  project  was 
pushed  as  fast  as  the  limited  means  of  the  society  would  permit. 

Augustus  Webster  donated  a  site  on  which  to  build  and  through 
the  efforts  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dean  the  building  of  the  meeting  house  was 
hastened.  The  work  was  accomplished  and  the  church  was  dedi- 
cated in  the  autumn  of  1840.  Deeds  of  the  pew  holders  were  sub- 
scribed by  Thomas  Ikiffum,  Zadock  Presho  and  Pliny  Hannum, 
being  a  committee  of  proprietors,  and  the  church  property  has  never 
been  under  control  of  the  conference. 

The  society  did  not  secure  a  parsonage  until  1S57  when  the  origi- 
nal parsonage  was  deeded  to  the  following  trustees  :  Rufus  Grout, 
David  Newell,  Lemuel  C.  Wedge,  Horace  Gray,  Zadock  Presho,  Ansel 
A.  Rankin  and  John  Sisson,  and  as  stated  in  the  document,  "for  the 
benefit  of  such  men  as  shall  be  employed  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  to  preach  in  the  west  part  of  Pelham."  The  original  house 
was  used  by  the  various  Ministers  sent  by  the  conference  until  Aug. 
II,  1875  when  the  building  was  sold  and  a  new  one  erected  on  the 
old  location. 

In  1865  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Cadwell  the  church  was 
repaired,  a  pulpit  after  the  more  modern  style  built,  and  the  vestry 
finished  in  the  basement,  with  adjoining  kitchen,  added  later.  In 
i8gi  while  Rev.  J.  O.  Dodge  was  pastor  a  new  barn  and  sheds  were 
added  at  the  parsonage.  In  1866  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  O. 
W.  Adams  70  persons  united  with  the  church,  and  in  1868  36  mem- 
bers took  letters  to  the  newly  organized  Methodist  church  at  Amherst, 
and  to  other  churches. 

The  Ministers  who  have  followed  Rev.  James  O.  Dean's  pastorate 
in  1837  are  as  follows:  Rev.  Joseph  W.  Lewis  for  the  year  1839  ; 
Rev.  John  Cadwell  1840  ;  Rev.  William  P.  White  1841  and  '42  ; 
Rev.  James  O.  Dean  1843  ^^^  '44  ;  ^^v.  Winsor  Ward  1845  ^"<^  4^  '■> 
Rev.  Increase  B.  Bigelow  1847  and  '48  ;  Rev.  William  Bardwell 
1849  ;  Rev.  Judah  Crosby  1850  and  '51  .  Rev.  R.  W.  Wright  1852 
and  '53  ;  Rev.  Franklin  Fisk  1854  ;  Rev.  John  Jones  1855  to  '57  ; 
Rev.  John  W.  Lee  in  1858  and  '59  ;  Rev.  J.  L.  Esty  and  Lorenzo 
Bosworth  i860  ;  Rev.  L.  A.  15ardwell  iS6i  ;  Rev.  Gilbert  R.  Bent 
1862  ;  Rev.  John  H.  Gaylord  1863  ;  Rev.  John  Cadwell  1864  and 
'65  ;  Rev.  O.  W.  Adams  1866  and '67  ;  Rev.  John  Noon  1868  and 
'69  ;  Rev.  George  Hewes  1870  ;  Kev.  N.  H.  Martin  187  i  and  '72  ; 
Rev.  W.  H.   Adams   1873  ;   Rev.  Nathan  A.  Soule  1874;    Rev.  Jona- 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  29  I 

than  Neal  1S75  and  '76  ;  Rev.  George  E.  Chapman  1877  and  '78  ; 
Rev.  John  Noon  1879  and  '80;  Rev.  Joseph  Wood  1881  and '82  ; 
Rev.  Lorenzo  White  1883  ;  Rev.  E.  P.  Herrick  1884  ;  Rev.  Henry  A. 
Jones  1885  and  '86;  Rev.  F.  S.  Miller  1887  ;  Rev.  W.  H.  Dockham 
1888  ;   Rev.  E.   H.  Turnecliff  1889  ;   Rev.  W.  P.  Blackmer  1890. 

Mr.  Blackmer  did  not  accept  the  appointment  and  the  society  was 
supplied  by  students  from  Wilbraham  part  of  the  year  and  Rev. 
Isaac  Yerkes  came  during  the  latter  part  of  the  year. 

Rev.  J.  O.  Dodge  189 1  ;  Rev.  George  Hudson  1892  and  '93  ; 
Rev.  Sherman  Meracle  1894;  Rev.  Eaton  B.  Marshall  1895,  '96,  '97  ; 

During  the  first  pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Cad  well  in  1840  the  Meet- 
ing house  was  finished  and  dedicated;  and  the  year  was  also  notable 
as  the  year  the  camp-meeting  of  the  Springfield  District  Conference 
was  held  in  Pelham.  The  ground  selected  was  perhaps  a  half  mile 
from  the  new  meeting  house  ;  a  grove  on  lands  of  Savannah  Arnold 
and  not  far  from  Mr.  Arnold's  residence.  There  were  great  crowds 
in  attendance  during  the  whole  week,  and  as  none  could  come  by 
railroad  there  were  many  horses  to  be  cared  for.  Long  processions 
of  teams  loaded  with  visitors  came  daily  from  Amherst  and  other 
towns.  There  were  no  hotels  nearer  than  Amherst  and  no  cottages 
on  the  camp  grounds  in  those  days,  so  that  all  visitors  who  spent 
the  night  slept  in  the  tents,  which  were  ranged  in  a  circle  around  the 
grounds;  the  preachers  stand  being  on  the  western  edge  of  the  circle, 
and  within  the  circle  of  tents  the  seats  for  the  audience  were  placed  ; 
advantage  being  taken  of  the  general  slope  of  the  camp  ground  to 
the  west  to  give  all  a  chance  to  see  the  preachers  on  the  stand  and 
to  hear  them  more  readily  by  having  the  preachers  placed  at  the 
lowest  point  in  the  circle. 

Union  Society  at  Packardville. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  signed  the  call  for  the 
organization  of  the  Union  Congregational  Society  Dec.  4,  1868. 

Albert  Firman,  Asahel  B.  Shaw,  Horton  B.  Ward, 

Oren  Sykes,  David  Randall,  George  W.  Knight, 

Philander  S.  Knight,  Ansel  C.  Shaw,  A.  A.  Howard, 

Lorenzo  W.  Miller,  George  S.  Calkins,  Ziza  A.  Hanks. 

The  meeting  was  held  Jan.  4,  1869. 


2g2  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

First  Officers  of  the  Union  Society. 

Albert  Firman,  Clerk ;  Ansel  Shaw,  Treasurer ;  Lorenzo  W. 
Miller,  Auditor ;  Prudential  Committee,  Albert  Firman,  Ziza  A. 
Hanks,  Philander  S.  Knight. 

"Voted  that  the  prudential  committee  be  empowered  to  appoint  three 
disinterested  persons  to  appraise  the  pews  in  the  Meeting  house  and 
sign  vouchers  in  behalf  of  the  society  for  complying  with  the  condi- 
tions required  in  asking  aid  from  Congregational  Union,  and  to 
make  such  repairs  in  and  about  the  Meeting  house  as  are  judged 
necessary." 

The  Society  having  completed  its  organization,  found  in  1869  that 
the  old  meeting  house  that  had  been  in  use  by  the  Baptist  society, 
which  preceded  them,  was  in  a  somewhat  dilapidated  condition  and 
must  be  repaired  or  a  new  one  built  in  its  place.  It  was  while 
repairs  were  in  progress  on  the  old  Baptist  meeting  house  that  it 
caught  fire  and  was  burned. 

At  a  meeting  March  26,  1869  a  committee  was  chosen  to  estimate 
the  cost  of  a  suitable  house  of  worship  after  having  inspected  churches 
and  houses  of  worship  in  other  places.  Lorenzo  W.  Miller,  Aretas 
J.  Cadwell  and  Albert  Firman  were  the  committee,  and  after  due 
consideration  reported  that  a  building  36  x  45  feet  would  be  large 
enough  for  the  needs  of  the  society  and  the  committee  were  instruc- 
ted to  go  forward  and  erect  such  a  house  as  they  thought  for  the 
best  good  of  the  people.  The  present  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
about  ^6,500  and  was  first  occupied  in  1870  for  the  funeral  of  David 
Randall. 

The  society  were  without  a  settled  pastor  for  several  years,  after 
the  organization,  the  pulpit  being  supplied  mostly  by  Professors  of 
Amherst  College  or  students  from  that  institution. 

April  29,  187  I  the  society  voted  to  join  with  the  church  in  calling 
Rev.  Wm.  K.  Vaille  of  Shutesbury  to  settle  over  the  church  and 
society,  and  it  was  further  voted  to  pledge  Mr.  Vaille  $450  as  an 
annual  salary — this  sum  to  include  the  aid  promised  by  the  Mass. 
Home  Missionary  Society,  which  was  $300  annually. 

Letters  missive  were  sent  to  the  following  churches  :  First,  Second, 
College,  North,  and  South  Congregational  churches  of  Amherst, 
Congregational  churches  in  Enfield,  Belchertown,  Granby,  Green- 
wich, Pelham,  Prescott,  Shutesbury,  Sunderland  and  South  Hadley, 
and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  West  Pelham. 


RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES.  293 

The  council  deciding  it  desirable  to  install  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vaille,  the 
exercises  were  held  June  28,  187 1,  Prof.  W.  S.  Tyler  preaching  the 
sermon.  Rev.  J-  L-  Jenkins  being  Moderator  of  the  council  and 
Rev.  Payson  \V.  Lyman  Scribe.  There  was  a  debt  upon  the  society 
for  the  church  building  and  the  churches  represented  by  the  council 
voted  to  assume  it  if  the  church  at  the  center  of  the  town  would 
accept  Mr.  Vaille  as  their  pastor  also,  he  holding  services  Sunday 
morning  at  Packardville  and  at  the  center  in  the  afternoon.  The 
church  at  the  center  finally  accepted  the  proposition  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Vaille  continued  to  be  pastor  of  the  Union  Society,  preaching  in  the 
two  churches  until  1887  when  he  resigned  his  charge  but  continued 
to  reside  on  his  farm  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  until  his  death  in 
1889.  His  death  being  caused  by  fatal  burns  received  in  trying  to 
save  his  property  when  his  house  burned  in  May  of  that  year. 

Since  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Vaille  the  society  has  had  no  settled 
pastor,  the  pulpit  having  been  supplied  almost  entirely  by  students 
from  Amherst  College,  and  among  them  who  have  officiated  accept- 
ably to  the  present  time  are  Erving  Burnap,  Amherst  College,  class  of 
'88,  one  year ;  E.  N.  Billings,  class  of  92,  one  year;  Andrew  H. 
Mulnix,  class  of '91,  one  year;  J.  A.  Goodrich,  class  of  '93,  one 
year;  Alfred  Lockwood,  class  of '96,  two  years;  J.  Elmer  Russell, 
class  of  '96,  one  year;   L.  B.  Chase,  class  of  '97. 


REV.  ROBERT  ABERCROMBIE 

AND  THE  Church  at  Pelham. 


The  settlement  of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  as  the  hrst  minister  of 
Pelham  in  1744  has  already  been  given  from  the  records  of  the  town; 
also  some  of  the  troubles  and  disagreements  between  pastor  and 
people,  beginning  soon  after  his  settlement  and  continuing  for  a 
good  portion  of  the  ten  years  of  his  pastorate,  as  we  are  led  to 
believe,  from  the  far  from  full  a-nd  clear  information  obtainable  from 
the  town  records. 

That  pastor  and  people,  or  a  portion  of  the  people  of  his  charge 
were  not  in  accord,  is  quite  evident,  but  a  careful  reading  of  all  the 
data  on  the  town  record  books  referring  to  the  differences,  fail  to 
give  us  a  clear  and  distinct  idea  of  what  it  was  all  about. 

That  the  people  were  not  prompt  in  the  payment  of  the  meagre 
salary  is  made  plain  by  the  records,  but  anyone  after  learning  all 
that  the  records  afford  upon  the  failure  of  the  people  to  pay  Mr. 
Abercrombie's  salary  when  due,  will  be  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
there  were  other  causes  of  disagreement  and  contention  of  which  the 
records  do  not  give  intelligent  information,  only  hints  of  what  may 
have  been. 

The  protest  signed  by  a  goodly  number  of  the  leading  men  among 
the  proprietors  or  settlers,  and  probably  members  of  the  church, 
against  the  action  which  others,  and  probably  the  majority  of  the 
voters  had  taken,  in  extending  a  call  to  Mr.  Abercrombie  to  settle  in 
I  743.  led  to  the  formal  or  informal  postponement  of  the  business  of  set- 
tling the  hrst  minister  for  about  a  year.  This  gives  reason  for  the 
belief  that  there  was  an  anti-Abercrombie  party  before  his  settlement, 
but  the  basis  of  their  objection  and  protest  is  not  made  plain.  The 
protest  was  much  feebler  in  1744  than  the  year  previous  but  it  is 
possible  that  while  those  who  protested  over  their  names  in  1743 
were  many  of  them  holding  the  same  opinions  and  beliefs  as  to  the 
expediency  of  settling  Mr.  Abercrombie  ;— they  had  cooled  down 
perhaps,  but  had  not  changed  their  minds  materially  on  the  question 
of  settlement. 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE. 


2  95" 


On  the  other  hand  we  must  believe  that  Mr.  Abercrombie  had  a 
strong  following  of  the  church  members  and  voters  with  him,  who 
were  equally  persistent  in  pushing  forward  the  important  business  of 
settling  a  pastor,  and  were  for  settling  Mr.  Abercrombie. 

While  we  do  not  understand  the  reason  or  reasons  why  a  portion^ 
of  the  voters  of  the  town  were  opposed  to  settling  Mr.  Abercrombie, 
or  on  what  grounds  the  majority  urged  and  demanded  that  he  should 
be  settled  ;  it  is  quite  easy  to  learn  from  these  unfortunate  condi- 
tions that  the  town  and  church  was  divided  from  the  beginning,  and 
consequently  in  a  state  of  mind  not  conducive  to  harmony  and 
mutual  helpfulness  so  desirable  in  any  community  between  pastor 
and  people,  and  especially  unfortunate  in  this  newly  settled  colony 
where  prosperity  and  happiness  depended  upon  unity  of  action  in 
all  matters  pretaining  to  church  and  town. 

The  people  composing  these  two  factions,  who  disagreed  about 
settling  the  first  minister,  were  much  alike  in  the  possession  of  strong 
\vills,  each  party  doubtless  believed  that  it  was  worlsing  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  little  settlement,  and  at  the  same  time  may  have  been 
at  a  loss  to  understand  how  the  opposite  faction  could  take  the  stand 
they  did. 

Each  individual  Scotchman  in  the  opposing  factions  had  all  the 
characteristic  persistence  of  purpose  common  to  that  nationality,  and 
consequently  not  much  inclined  to  make  concessions  for  the  sake  of 
harmony  and  unity;  and  might  have  been  much  more  inclined  to 
argue  with  strength  and  vehemence  in  sustaining  his  own  indi- 
vidual position,  and  that  of  the  faction  to  which  he  was  joined. 

Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie,  from  all  that  can  be  learned  of  him, 
was  a  man  in  whom  the  Scotch  characteristics  of  resolute  persistence 
and  determination  were  very  marked.  He  was  a  descendent  in  an 
unbroken  line  of  Abercronibies  dating  back  to  the  twelfth  century  in 
Fifeshire,  Scotland ; — was  educated  at  the  Edinburg  university, 
where  he  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  profound  scholar,  familiar 
with  Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew  and  Syriac ;  and  brought  testimonials 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburg  and  Kirkaleby,  also  recommendations 
from  distinguished  Scotch  divines.  A  man  of  sound  sense  and 
ability,  well  equipped  for  his  chosen  profession  ;  a  strict  disciplina- 
rian, and  possessed  of  a  resolute  purpose  to  demand  rigid  adherence  to 
the  doctrines  and  requirements  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Scotland. 
After    landing    at    Boston    in    the    autumn    of    1740,  as    a    licensed 


-296  HIsrOKV    OK    FKLHAM,    MASS. 

preacher,  he  preached  among  Presbyterians  at  Boston,  Worcester 
.and  other  places,  going  about  on  horseback  and  in  this  work  became 
acquainted  with  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians  who  went  from  Worces- 
ter to  Pelham,  before  they  had  become  fully  established  in  their  new 
settlement. 

The  foregoing  outline  of  the  differences  and  disagreements  between 
Mr.  Abercrombie  and  the  people  of  Pelham,  and  a  proper  considera- 
tion of  the  tenacious  and  unyielding  character  of  pastor  and  people 
when  they  honestly  believed  themselves  in  the  right,  should  help  to 
a  better  and  more  charitable  understanding  of  the  facts  as  they 
appear  on  the  records,  as  we  review  and  study   them    more  carefully. 

It  was  on  May  11,  1742,  that  the  people  of  Pelham  -'Voted  to 
intercede  with  Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie  to  be  our  Supplayer  as  far 
as  he  can  for  this  summer." 

In  1743,  May  26,  Ephriam  Cowan,  Samuel  Gray  and  Robert 
Piebles  were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  invite  three  neighboring 
ordained  ministers  to  keep  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  with  us  and 
to  consult  with  the  same  whome  we  shall  call  to  be  our  minister." 
Although  the  time  for  holding  this  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was 
postponed  from  time  to  time,  they  being  directed  first  "  to  desire  the 
Ministers  to  attend  on  the  last  Thursday  in  June  ;"  and  at  a  meeting 
June  21  the  committee  was  directed  to  "'call  it  when  they  can  have 
it  with  the  best  convenecy."  We  will  assume  that  it  was  held  though 
the  date  does  not  appear.  Subsequent  to  this  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  a  formal  call  was  extended  to  Mr.  Abercrombie  to  become 
their  minister,  but  the  date  thereof  does  not  seem  to  have  been 
entered  on  the  book.  The  next  thing  that  attracts  attention  on  the 
records  is  the  protest  already  referred  to.  There  are  twenty-two 
names  signed  to  the  document,  but  as  the  name  of  James  Gilmore 
appears  twice  there  were  only  twenty-one  protesting  voters, — though 
it  was  possible  one  of  the  Gihnores  was  James,  Jun.,  as  there  was 
such  a  man. 

The  Protest. 

"Pelham,  August  31.  1743. 
We  ye  Subscribers  Being   Freeholders    &   Inhabitants  of  said   town    Do 
protest  against  ye  Proceedings  of  Part  of  ye   inhabitants  of  y""  s'^  town    in 
tlieir  calling  of  y'  liav.  Robert  Abercrombie  to  be  their  minister  in  s'  town. 
Test  y^'  Subscribers, 

James  Gilmore.  William  Fergerson, 


REV.     ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  297 

Samuel  Fergerson,  Adam  Petterson,  John  Gilmore,  Thomas  Dick,  James 
Thornton,  James  McCuUoch,  Alexander  McCuUoch,  Hugh  Gray,  Robert 
King,  William  Thornton,  John  Stairling,  James  Gilmore,  Robert  Fergerson, 
John  Fergerson,  Robert  McCuUoch,  James  Fergerson,  James  Uunlap, 
Thomas  Petterson,  George  Petterson,  John  Dick." 

No  reasons  were  given  for  this  protest, — and  it  is  impossible  to 
determine  by  the  document  itself  whether  they  disliked  the  idea  of 
settling  Mr.  Abercrombie,  or  whether  they  were  opposed  to  settling 
any  minister  at  that  time  ;  but  the  effect  of  the  protest  was  the  same 
as  a  formal  order  to  halt,  and  all  further  action  was  abandoned  until 
the  next  spring. 

A  glance  at  the  names  appended  to  the  protest  shows  conclusively 
that  there  was  earnest  opposition  to  the  action  of  the  town.  Among 
the  names  are  such  prominent  men  as  James  Thornton,  one  of  the 
two  men  who  led  off  in  purchasing  the  tract  and  organizing  the 
settlement.  John  Fergerson,  at  whose  house  the  first  meeting  of  the 
proprietors  in  Pelham  was  held  ;  Thomas  Dick  and  his  brother  John 
Dick  were  the  men  who  built  the  meeting  house,  and  both  were 
important  personages  in  the  history  of  the  settlement.  Later  on 
John  Dick  was  town  clerk  thirty-five  years  in  succession  ;  and  there 
must  have  been  others  among  the  protesting  faction  whose  influence 
in  church  and  town  affairs  was  an  important  factor.  Taking  the 
protest  with  names  appended  as  a  whole,  it  was  of  sufficient  import- 
ance to  cause  delay  ajid  hesitation  on  the  part  of  those  most  zealous 
for  settling  Mr.  Abercrombie  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Pelham. 

The  Ministers'  Letter  of  Endorsement. 

"  Whereas  we  ye  Subscribers  have  had  some  considerable  acciuaintance 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Al^ercrombie,  l^reacher  of  y"^^  Gospel,  and  what  we  know  of 
his  qualification  by  Information  and  personal  acquaintance,  we  advise  y*^ 
people  of  God  in  Pelham  to  Invite  y'=  s'^  Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie  to  settle 
in  ye  Work  of  y''  Ministrie  among  them  as  their  Pastor— as  Witness  our 
hands  this  30*''  of  August  1743. 

Jonathan  Edwards,  David  White,  David  McGregorie,  David 
Parsons,  Jux." 

The  above  recommendation  by  the  ministers  which  is  dated,  Aug. 
30th,  the  day  before  the  call  was  probably  extended, — tends  to  sus- 
tain the  belief  that  the  formal  call  was  made  Aug.  31,  and  that  the 
protest  followed  quickly,  and  was  given  the  same  date. 


.298  history  of  pelham,  mass. 

Warrant  for  Town  Meeting,  March  5,   1743-4. 

The  first  article  in  the  warrant  for  the  town  meeting,  March  5, 
1743-4  was  : 

"To  see  if  tlie  town  will  order  their  vote  of  August  y"  31  1743  con- 
cerning Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie"*  Call  lo  Stand  thus  there  being  read  in 
the  meeting  a  Call  from  ye  Inhabitants  of  Pelham  unto  Mr.  Robert  Aber- 
crombie  to  be  Minister  in  Said  Place." 

The  record  of  action  on  the  above  article  is  as  follows : — "  Ye 
meeting  did  Unanimously  concur  therewith  and  Voted  upon  his 
being  Approved,  Accepting  of  Said  Call  and  Settling  ^^'ith  them 
he  shall  be  Minister  in  said  Town." 

(The  date  of  the  meeting,  March  5,  1743-4  is  really  March  5.1744, 
because  of  the  practice  of  beginning  the  business  of  the  new  year 
March  25  rather  than  on  January  first.  All  dates  up  to  March  25 
were  given  as  belonging  to  the  year  that  ended  with  the  previous 
December.) 

Article  2.  "  To  see  if  they  will  appoint  a  Committee  to  represent  their 
Call  unto  &  acquaint  said  Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie  with  their  proposals 
and  Receive  His  Answer." 

Article  3.  "  To  act  upon  Every  Perticular  that  may  be  found  Necesery  in 
■Consequence  of  His  Answer  to  Compleat  his  settlement. 

Pelham,  March  y^'  5'"  1843-4. 

Robert  Peibols,  Alexander  Coxkey,  Johx  Alexander,  Johx  Gray 
Selectmen  of  Pelham."  , 

John  Stinson  was  chosen  moderator.  ''  It  is  Voted  &  Concorded 
with  according  as  it  is  Mentioned  in  the  \\'arrant. 

Voted  that  Alexander  Conkey,  Ephriam  Cowan,  Matthew  Gray  & 
Robert  Peibols  be  a  Committe  to  Present  a  Call  to  Mr.  Robert  Aber- 
crombie &  Receive  His  answer  tS:  also  this  Meeting  is  adjourned  for 
one  Houre  &  a  half  to  y"  Meeting  House  to  Receive  y"  Report  of 
s''  Committee. 

Then  Meet  and  also  voted  y'  y '  Proposals  of  Mr.  Robert  Aber- 
crombie is  Concord  With  By  a  Great  Majority, — and  also  Voted  that 
there  be  a  Committee  chosen  to  Complete  y""  Work  from  time  to 
time  from  this  time  to  ordination. — Said  Committee  is  George 
Cowan,  John  Stinson  &  Robert  Peibols, — this  meeting  is  adjourned 
to  ye  first  tusday  of  April  Nixt  at  ten  of  y"  Clock  in  y''  forenoon  at 
ye  Meeting  House  of  said  Pelham. 

John  Stinson,   Moderator." 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  299 

"  March  y  5'"  1743-4- 
These  May  Certifie  y' James  Thornton  his  entered    His  Protest  against 
y"-'  above  Meeting." 

Of  the  twenty-two  men  who  the  year  previous  recorded  a  formid- 
able protest  against  the  action  of  "  Part  of  ye  inhabitants  of  the 
town,"  only  James  Thornton  comes  to  the  front  in  opposition  to 
similar  action  at  this  time. 

Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie's  Acceptance  of  the  Call. 

"  Pelham  March  y*^  5th  1744. 
Messers  : — You  may  Signiiie  to  your  Constituents  y'  Having  Considered 
ye  Call  from  y"'  Congregation  Concured  in  by  them  togither  With  the  Cir- 
cumstances of  y"  place  I  am  at  last  Willing  to  Submit  myself  to  be  tried  as 
to  my  fitness  for  such  a  Charge  &  Being  found  Qualified  shall  Consent  to  be 
Ordained  &  Indever  in  y<=  Strength  of  Divine  Grace  to  Exercise  y'^'  Minis- 
terial office  among  them  as  God  shall  enable  me  Provided  y'  in  Place  of 
what  Proposals  they  have  made  for  my  Incouragement  &  Support  they 
secure  to  me  y*"  land  sett  apart  for  ye  first  Settled  Minister  of  this  town  w"' 
a  yearly  Sallery  of  50  pounds  Lawful  Money  to  be  paid  at  y^  present  value 
of  ye  Bills  of  New  tenor  in  case  they  should  Depreciate  upon  ye  Expiration 
of  eight  years  if  God  pleases  to  continue  us  so  long  togither  Consider  of 
their  ability  &  my  Needsesity  Require  anything  to  be  added  thereto  and  act 
as  they  find  cause  or  if  they  can  propose  anything  Better  for  us  both  I  should 
willingly  Consent. 

I  am  &c. 

R.  Abercrombie." 

The  Ordination  of  the  First  Minister. 

The  ordination  of  Robert  Abercrombie  took  place  on  the  30th  of 
August,  1744  and  was  a  notable  occasion  for  the  newly  incorporated 
town. 

"At  a  meeting  adjourned  from  ye  first  Tuesday  of  July  to  the  30th 
day  of  July  1744  Then  Meet  on  said  Day  and  was  nominated 
Mr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  Mr.  John  Moorehead,  Mr.  David  McGregorie, 
Mr.  David  Parsons,  Mr.  David  White,  Mr.  Billings,  Mr.  John 
Graham  to  be  invited  to  our  Ordination  ye  time  agreed  upon  is  ye 
30th  Day  of  August  Nixt." 

Warrant  for  Town  Meeting,  August  28,   1744. 

"  at  2  of  ye  Clock  in  ye  afternoon  then  and  thereto  hear  What  their 
Committee  appointed  to  see  Mr.  Abercrombie'*'  Settlement  Finished  may 
have  to  Say  before  them  &  Act  upon  Whatsoever  Particulars  may  be  found 
Necery  to  Compleat  y''  same  &  Make  Everything  Relative  thereto  Effectual 


300  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

and  firm.  Hereof  fail  Not  &  Make  return  of  your  Doings  Sometime  before 
said  Meeting  to  one  of  us  Subscribers  as  Witness  our  Hands  &  Seal  this  g"* 
Day  of  August   1744  and  in  y^'  i8">  year  of  His  Majesties  Reights. 

Matthew  Gray,  Ephriam  Cowan,  George  &  John  Stinson." 

There  is  no  record  of  action  under  the  above  warrant. 

The  Ordaining  Council  was  composed  of  the  following  ministers 
and  laymen  :  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  of  Northampton  ;  Rev.  John 
Moorhead,  of  Boston  ;  Rev.  David  McGregorie,  of  Londonderry,  N. 
H.;  Rev.  David  Parsons,  Jun.,  of  Amherst ;  David  White,  Mr.  Billings 
and  John  Graham.  No  residence  of  the  last  named  members  of 
council  is  given,  but  they  probably  did  not  live  far  from  Pelham. 

Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards  preached  the  sermon  on  this  important 
occasion,  and  the  great  business  of  settling  the  first  minister  was 
accomplished. 

Homelot  No.  1  was  turned  over  to  Mr.  Abercrombie,  together  with 
the  second  and  third  divisions  of  land  that  went  with  lot  No.  i. 

On  Lot  No.  I,  on  the  north  side  of  the  middle  range  road,  the 
ministers'  house  was  erected,  and  it  was  there  that  Mr.  Abercrombie 
lived  during  his  ten  years  pastorate,  and  there  is  no  record  to  show 
that  he  did  not  continue  to  reside  there  until  his  death  March  7,  1786. 

Li  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held  on  tiie  15th  of  April, 
1746,  appears  the  following  article  : — 

"6'-''  to  See  What  Method  y*^^  town  will  take  in  Paying  y"  Rev.  Mr.  Robert 
Abercrombie  his  Sallery  this  Present  year.'" 

Recorded  action  on  this  article  follow:  "  Voted  that  y"  Rev.  Mr. 
Robert  Abercrombie  be  paid  this  Present  year's  Sallery  by  Pole  & 
Improvement." 

There  is  nothing  upon  the  records  to  indicate  that  there  was  any 
trouble  between  pastor  and  people  for  the  first  two  years  of  Mr. 
Abercrombie's  pastorate  but  the  following  copy  of  an  order  of  the 
Court  of  Sessions  shows  that  trouble  had  begun  and  the  Court  was 
appealed  to  by  the  pastor  to  settle  some  difficulty  between  them  or 
compel  payment  of  overdue  salary.  Just  what  the  trouble  was  the 
brief  court  order  does  not  inform  us. 

"  Robert  Abercrombie  of  Pelham,  Clerk,  Complaint  against  the  Town  of 
Pelham,  for  &c. --Ordered  that  the  Selectmen  of  s'^  Town  be  notified  to 
appear  at  the  next  Court  and  make  answer  thereto  to  which  for  further  con- 
sideration thereof  is  referred. 
Northampton,  May  19,  1746,  Court  of  Sessions." 

The  following  document  copied  the  exact  size  of  the  original  was 
addressed  to  the  selectmen  by  the  town  treasurer,  Jan.  13,  1746-7. 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  3OI 

"  To  The  Select  men  of  Pelham  " 


^ii£e4^2fn  ijli^^^  5$^^.^c^  ^ 

4irr- 1^  -Leu    y   Tn^n^M/l  ^ieix. 


<rrui.  {  M/^i 


The  Warrant  of  March  1 1  for  a  town  meeting,  March  19,  1746-7 
contained  the  following  articles  : — 

"2'-''  To  see  if  ye  town  Will  Impovver  the  Committee  that  was  chosen  at 
y«  Feb^  Meeting  Meet  y^  9'^''  of  Said  Month  1746-7— and  Impower  them 
With  all  Necery  Power  to  Wite  to  Imploy  a  Councler  &  a  Retorney  if  in. 
Case  the  Rev.  Air.  Ebercrombie  Suess  ye  town — 


302  HISTORY    OK    PELHAM,    MASS. 

3'y  to  See  if  y"  town  Will  Except  of  the  report  that  the  Committee  his  to 
Lay  Before  y'^  town  Concerning  the  Pepers  that  William  Gray  Hath  and  to 
see  what  ye  town  Will  Do  Concerning  Said  Peper — 

8'y  To  see  what  the  town  Will  Do  with  y'^  Money  that  Lays  in  the  treasur- 
er's Hands  for  Mr.  Ebercrombie  Hath  Refused  to  take  itt." 

Recorded  action  of  the  town  under  the  warrant  for  meeting,  March 
19,  1746-7  : 

"  Voted  that  ye  Committee  that  was  chosen  att  ye  Feb'  Meeting 
ye  Ninth  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  &  Fourty  Six-Seven  is 
Impowered  to  Imploy  a  Councler  &  Retorney  if  in  Case  y*"  Rev. 
Mr.  Ebercrombie  Sue  the  Town. 

Voted  that  y*"  Old  Committee  that  was  cliosen  to  Look  over 
y^  Pepers  is  Impowered  to  go  and  Receive  ysaid  Pepers  and  Deliver 
them  to  ye  Present  Clerk. 

1 8'-  Voted  that  James  Conkey,  treasurer,  is  to  keep  ye  Money  that 
is  in  his  Hands  till  y"  first  of  May  unless  y''  Rev.  Mr.  Ebercrombie 
Demand  it  from  y'"  aforesaid  treasurer." 

Immediately  following  the  record  of  action  at  the  meeting,  March 
19,  1746-7  there  is  a  protest,  and  an  agreement  spread  upon  the 
records  which  are  copied  in  full. 

The  Protest. 

"We  ye  Subscribers  Enter  our  Protest  against  ye  Proceedings  of  Chusing 
a  Committee  to  go  to  Law  with  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Ebercrombie  Relating  to  his 
Sallery  as  Witness  our  Hands  this  19'"  Day  of  March  1747. 

William  Gray,  Thomas  Hamilton,  John  Stinson,  John  Savige,  Matthew 
Gray,  Thomas  Lowden,  John  Gray,  Robert  Pebles,  Thomas  Cochran,  John 
Hunter,  Patrick  Pebels,  James  Johnson.'" 

Rev.   Mr.  Aberbrombie's  Agreement. 

"  That  for  five  years  from  my  .Settlement  l^e  payed  fifty  pounds  in  Bills  of 
the  New  Tenor  as  ye  same  is    CoUicted  that  upon  no  part  of   it  being  Kept 
back  Longer  than  demanded  and  the  last  of  it  Payed  Yearly  I  promise  to 
aCept  of  it  as  My  Sallery  for  these  years  and  discharge  aCordingly. 
Pelham  August  i^'  1747. 

R.  Abercrombie." 

Meeting,  February   17,   1748-9. 

Two  articles  in  the  warrant : — 

"First  to  see  if  y*^  town  Will  Chuse  a  Committee  To  Send  to  y"  Rev.  Mr. 
Ebercrombie  to  See  What  Vote  y''  town  Hath  voted  against  Mr.  Eber- 
crombie that  is  Contrary  to  ye  Law. 


1^-' 


>^>>    ^^ 


-N 


3 


1-'  0 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  303 

2'y  to  see  What  the  Town  Will  be  willing  to  add  to  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Robert 
Ebercrombies  Sallery  for  this  Present  year." 

"  Voted  that  there  be  Nothing  acted  on  y''  first  article  of  ye 
Warrant. 

Voted  that  there  be  one  Hundred  Pound  aCording  to  ye  old  tenor 
added  to  y"  Rev.  Mr.  Ebercrombies  Sallery  for  this  Present  year. 
WiLLiAiM  Gray  y"'  2'^  Moderator." 

Meeting,  April  4,   1749. 

In  the  warrant  for  the  meeting  there  were  articles  concerning  the 
town  debt  and  credit, — about  the  roads, — the  schools. — and  about 
building  a  bridge  on  the  West  Branch  of  Swift  River  and  then, — 

•'  5'*  to  See  if  ye  town  Will  Consider  those  votes  that  Injours  Mr.  Eber- 
erombie  in  his  Character  as  he  says — 

6'-''  to  see  if  ye  town  Will  Reconsider  ye  votes  that  is  Contrary  to  ye  town 
agreement  With  Mr.  Ebercrombie  as  He  says — 

7'y  to  See  if  ye  town  Will  Chuse  a  Man  or  Men  to  Represent  ye  town  at 
y''  Presbytrie  if  y*-"  town  and  Mr.  Ebercrombie  Don't  agree." 

"  Voted  there  be  nothing  acted  on  ye  fifth  and  sixth  articles  of  ye 
Warrant. 

Voted  that  Robert  Maklem  is  to  Represent  the  the  town  at  the 
Presbytrie — 

George  Cowan,  Moderator." 

"We  y'^  Subscribers  Enter  our  Protest  against  ye  vote  of  Not  acting  upon 
those  votes  Mentioned  that  is  Grivioroos  to  Mr.  Ebercrombie  : — 

William  Gray,  Patrick  Pebels,  John  Gray,  John  Edeger,  Matthew  Gray, 
John  Stinson,  Thos  Hamilton,  Thomas  Cochran,  John  Hamilton,  James 
Taylor,  John  Lucore.  Thomas  Lowden." 

The  5th  and  6th  articles  which  were  not  acted  upon  and  thereby 
caused  the  above  protest,  were  called  up  again  in  another  warrant 
for  a  meeting  Sept.  9,  1752  and  the  injurious  votes  were  recalled. 

It  is  evident  that  the  Presbytery  had  taken  a  hand  in  the  trouble 
between  Mr.  Abercrombie  and  the  people  and  were  expected  to 
make  charges  against  the  town  at  a  session  soon  to  be  held  at 
Pelham.  In  view  of  serious  charges  that  might  be  made  a  town 
meeting  was  called  on  the  31st  of  May,  1749,  to  deliberate,  and  take 
such  action  as  might  be  thought  proper.  There  was  but  one  article 
in  the  warrant. 

Meeting,  May  31,   1749. 

Warrant. — "To  see  if  the  town  Will  think  it  Proper  to  Chuse  a  Man  or 
Men  to  answer  the  Presbytrie  in  behalf  of  the  town. 


304  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Voted  that  John  Savige,  Ephriam  Cowan,  Thomas  Dick,  James 
McConel,  Robert  Maklem,  John  Clark  &  John  Johnson  be  a  com- 
mittee for  to  answer  at  y"  Presbytrie  in  Behalf  of  said  town. 

Thomas  Dick,  Moderator." 

Warrant  f(jr  Meeting,  April  30,    1751. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  on  the  above  date  this  article  is 
found  : 

6'-*  to  see  if  the  town  Will  be  Willing  to  send  a  man  to  the  Presbytrie  with 
a  pition  to  Have  them  Meet  here  in  Respect  to  our  Deficualty  Espacly 
Baptism  to  Chirdling." 

Infant  Baptisim  was  a  subject  over  which  there  was  radical  disa- 
greement between  pastor  and  people  and  the  article  in  the  warrant 
indicates  that  the  question  of  submitting  the  matter  to  the  Presbytery 
had  been  considered  and  the  town  was  called  upon  to  decide  whether 
they  would  send  a  man  to  ask  the  Presbytery  to  hold  a  session  with 
them  in  regard  to  the  existing  troubles  and  especially  the  important 
question  of  Infant  Baptism.  What  action  was  taken  by  the  town 
when  assembled  cannot  be  learned  from  the  record  as  no  mention  of 
action  on  the  6th  article  appears. 

Meeting,  January  8,   1750-51. 

The  warrant  for  this  meeting  contained  five  articles  or  "particu- 
lars "  as  follows  : — 

"  First  to  see  if  town  Will  Continue  Mr.  Kbercrombie"s  Sallery  as  it  Was 
last  year. 

2'''  to  see  if  ye  town  Will  Chuse  a  Committee  to  Prosecute  Jolin  Stinson 
at  ye  Law  for  afals  Record  that  he  Give  to  y^'  Clerk.— Att  y*  request  of  y' 
Rev''  Mr.  Robert  Ebercrombie  y-  following  articles  is  Inserted. 

3'-^  to  see  if  ye  town  will  Contirm  and  fultill  their  agreement  W'ith  Mr. 
Ebercrombie. 

4''  to  see  if  ye  town  will  Confirm  Mr.  Ebercrombie's  Proposals  upon  which 
he  Settled  witli  them,  or  oppose  Him  in  ye  Law  Provided  he  apply  to  y* 
Civil  Authority  to  Settle  this  matter  and  fix  his  Sallery. 

5'^  to  see  if  ye  town  will  chuse  a  Committee  to  Withstand  Mr.  Eber- 
crombie in  ye  Law  Provided  he  apply  to  the  same." 

Action  of   the   meeting   on    the   above   warrant  follows:    "Att   a 

Meeting  of    ye  freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Pelham 

Legally  Assembled  on  tuesday,  tiie  Eighth  Day  of  January,   1750-51. 

Then    Meet   on   Said  Day   and   then    was   chosen   Thomas    Dick, 

Moderator. 


REV.     ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  305 

First  voted  to  Confirm  &  fulfill  their  agreement  with  Mr.  Eber- 
crombie  aCording  to  His  Proposals  upon  which  he  Settled  With 
them. 

2'^'  Voted  that  Mr.  Ebercrombie's  Sallery  be  Continued  as  it  Was 
last  year. 

3'^'  past  Negitivly  that  there  be  no  Committee  Chosen  to  Prosecute 
John  Stinson  at  ye  Law." 

"We  ye  Subscribers  Enter  our  Protest  against  ye  Vote  of  Mr.  Eber- 
crombie's Proposals  Being  Confirmed  &  fulfilled. 

James  Conkey,  Ephriam  Cowan,  George  Cowan,  John  Blair,  John  Clark, 
James  McConel,  David  Thomas,  Alexander  Turner,  James  McColIoch, 
Robert  Loutheridge,  William  Gray  y"  3"^,  John  Johnson,  James  Johnson, 
James  Gilmore,  Jun." 

The  town  record  contains  no  account  of  the  council  or  Presbytery 
that  suspended  or  dismissed  Mr.  Abercrombie,  but  certain  records 
indicate  that  the  pastoral  relation  had  been  severed  and  that  the 
Presbytery  had  appointed  certain  preachers  who  were  to  act  as  sup- 
plies for  the  church  at  Pelham,  and  in  this  connection  we  copy  the 
warrant  for  a  town  meeting,  Nov.  29,  1754  and  the  action  of  the 
voters  on  the  several  articles. 

Warrant  for  Meeting,  Nov.  29,   1754. 

"2'-''  To  see  if  the  town  Will  allowe  the  Selectmen  to  keep  the  Meeting- 
house for  ye  Supplies  ordered  by  the  Presbytrie  or  Chuse  others  in  there 
Room. 

3'->'  To  see  Who  y"^'  town  will  order  to  Entertain  the  Ministers  that  is 
ordered  to  supply  untill  y'^'  Nixt  Presbytrie.'' 

"2'-  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  Keep  the  Meeting  house  for  the 
Supplies  that  the  Presbytrie  ordered. 

3'-'  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  Provide  for  the  Entertainment  of 
the  Ministers  that  is  ordered  By  the  Presbytrie  to  supply. 

William  Crosett,  Moderator." 

"We  ye  Subscribers  Inhabitons  of  Pelham  Protest  Against  the  Second 
and  third  Vots  Past  in  atown  Meeting  in  Said  Pelham  y^'  twenty  Ninth  of 
Novb'  one  thousand  Seven  Hundred  &  fifty-four. 

Thomas  Dick,  John  Hamilton,  William  Petteson,  Thomas  McMulIen, 
John  Stinson,  James  Sloan,  James  Taylor,  Joseph  Rinken,  Thomas  Cochran." 

Judging  from  the  nature  of  the  "  Second  and  Third  "  votes  passed 
at  the  meeting  of  Nov.  29,  which  is  the  basis  of  the  protest,  we  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  men  who  signed  the  document  were  feel- 


3o6  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

ing  very  unpleasantly  over  the  suspension  of  Rev.  Mr.  Abercrombie 
by  the  Presbytery  and  were  not  in  a  state  of  mind  to  accept  of  the 
ministers  the  Presbytery  in  their  good  judgment  had  selected  to 
supply  the  Pelham  pulpit.  They  probably  cast  their  votes  against 
allowing  the  meeting  house  to  be  opened  for  these  ministers  to 
preach  in,  and  also  against  providing  for  their  entertainment. 

To  aid  in  a  better  understanding  of  the  articles  in  the  foregoing 
warrant  and  the  action  thereon  by  the  town,  it  can  be  said  that  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Abercrombie  had  been  charged  by  the  Presbytery  with 
having  acted  contrary  to  Presbyterian  principle  and  rules  governing 
the  church  and  Mr.  Abercrombie  had  been  suspended  from  the  exer- 
cise of  the  duties  of  his  pastorate,  while  under  this  order  of  suspen- 
sion. At  the  same  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  "  Supplies  for  the 
Pelham  pulpit  were  appointed, ""  and  an  order  was  directed  to  the 
selectmen  to  shut  the  doors  of  the  meeting  house  against  Mr.  Aber- 
crombie, and  only  allow  preaching  by  those  the  Presbytery  should 
send. 

The  Selectmen  recognizing  the  Presbytery  as  authority  shut  the 
doors  of  the  meeting  house  against  Mr.  Abercrombie  as  directed. 
Then  came  the  warrant  for  the  town  meeting,  Nov.  29,  1754,  and 
the  action  of  the  town  was  as  above  recorded. 

The  first  "  Supply  "  or  minister  that  came  was  Rev.  Mr.  McDowel 
and  the  reception  he  met  with  we  quote  from  Mr.  Abercrombie's 
account  of  it.  "  Mr.  McDowel  called  at  my  house  ;  He  introduced 
himself  with  large  Protestations  of  his  aversion  to  come  ;  He  asked 
if  I  would  willingly  resign  the  pulpit  to  him  ?  I  absolutely  refused  : 
and  told  him  I  should  look  upon  it  as  an  unw.uTantable  Intrusion  if 
he  took  it.  I  invited  him  to  lodge  at  my  house,  which  he  refused. — 
He  went  off  and  immediately  concluded  with  the  Selectmen  not  to 
take  the  meeting  house  upon  the  Sabbath  but  upon  the  Monday ; 
which  he  accordingly  did  :  The  Selectmen  keeping  the  doors  shut 
until  he  came  :  and  they,  with  one  or  two  of  the  elders  hurrying  him 
into  the  pulpit, — while  the  Selectmen  forcibly  kept  me  from  entering 
the  same:  where  in  a  \\\o?A. precipitant  manner  he  began  his  service." 
Rev.  Mr.  Burns  was  the  next  supply,  he  was  followed  by  Rev. 
Mr.  McClintock.  The  troubles  which  led  to  the  suspension  of  Mr, 
Abercrombie  will  be  gone  into  more  fully  later  on,  but  it  maybe  well 
to  say  now  that  it  was  as  early  as  1753  that  the  controversy 
with  the  Presbytery  began  and  after  he  had  expressed  a  desire  to  be 


REV.     ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  307 

dismissed    from   the  pastorate  at  Pelham,   and  the   Presbytery  had 
dechned  to  comply  with  his  request. 

Meeting,  Jan.    14,   1756. 

The  warrant  for  this  meeting  had  but  two  articles  or  "Particulars." 

"  First  To  see  if  the  town  Will  Chuse  a  Committee  to  Defend  the  Com- 
plant  That  Mr.  Abercrombie  His  Laid  In  Against  the  town  for  His  Sallery. 

2'^-  to  See  What  Method  the  town  Will  take  to  Get  the  Minitsof  the  Pres- 
bytrie  that  Will  be  Needed. 

Acting  on  the  first  article  the  town  ''Voted  that  there  be  a  Com- 
mittee Chosen  in  Behalf  of  the  town  to  Attend  the  Court  at  North- 
ampton.    Said  Committee  is  John  Savige  &  Allexander  Turner. 

2'='  Voted  that  John  Blair  is  to  Get  the  Minits  of  the  Presbytrie. 

3'^  Voted  that  William  Gray  is  to  assist  the  Present  Clerk  to  Put 
the  Minits  on  the  town  Book  that  William  Gray  Minited. 

WiLLiAiM  Gray,  Moderator. 

From  the  court   records  at    Northampton  : 

"  Robert  Abercrombie  Complaint  against  the  town  of  Pelham  in  y-  County 
of  Hampshire  for  not  paying  him  his  salary  as  per  Complaint  on  file.  The 
parties  appeared  and  y"  Courts  having  considered  the  Complaints  and  y^ 
parties  pleas.  It's  considered  that  y'-*  Complaints  be  dismissed  and  y'^  said 
Town  Recover  against  y'-  said  Abercrombie  12 — 3  lawful  money  allowed 
them  for  Costs. 
Court  set  the  second  Tuesday  of  February  1756." 

Rev.  Mr.  Abercrombie,  having  lost  one  suit  against  the  town  in 
February,  1756  for  overdue  salary  very  soon  brought  another,  and 
in  March  of  the  same  year  Alexander  Turner  was  chosen  to  answer 
the  complaint  in  behalf  of  the  town.  The  case  dragged  along  year 
after  year  and  Turner  and  others,  including  John  Savige,  were  chosen 
to  represent  the  town  until  it  finally  came  to  trial  at  Northampton  in 
1759,  and  the  court  records  that  follow  are  interesting  : 

••  Robert  Abercrombie  vs.  the  Town  of  PelhAiM. 

Robert  Abercrombie  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  Clerk 
Plaintiff  or  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Pelham  in  said  County  Defend- 
ants in  a  Plea  of  Trespass  on  the  Case  wherein  said  Abercrombie  demands 
against  the  said  Inhabitants  of  Said  Town  the  sum  of  One  Hundred  & 
Seventy  seven  Pounds  Sixteen  shiUings  lawful  Money  being  y'=  arreas  of  the 
salery  due  him  from  s'^  town  as  their  Minister  &c  as  is  at  large  set  forth  in 
the  writ  on  file. — The  Pardes  in  this  Case  appear  Viz :  the  said  Robert 
personally  and  the  said  Town  by  Alexander  Turner  their  Agent  and  attorney, 
and  enter  into  a  Rule  of  Court  to  refer  this  Case  and  also  to  submit  all  Con- 
tracts Actions   disputes   controversies  and   Demands   respecting    any   per- 


3o8  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

sonal  Matters  now  subsisting  between  them.     The    Plaintiff  chose  Oliver 

Partridge   of   Hatfield    Esq.     The    Defendants   chose   Thomas of 

Deerfield  Esq,  and  the  Court  appointed  Timothy  Woodbridge  Esq  of 
Stockbridge  who  are  to  hear  the  Parties,  consider  the  Case  and  all  personal 
matters  submitted  to  them,  and  make  report  to  the  next  Court  wliose 
Determination  or  any  two  of  them  is  to  be  final,  and  the  Action  is  Continued 
in  the  Meantime. 
February  13,  1759." 

"  1759    AliERCKOMBIE  VS.  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  PeLHAM. 

Robert  Abercrombie  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  Clerk  Pltf 
or  The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Pelham  aforesaid  Defendants  in  a  Plea 
of  Trespass  on  the  Case  for  that  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Pelham  having 
invited  and  Called  the  Plaintiff  to  be  their  Settled  and  ordained  Minister  he 
on  the  s""  of  March  1743  at  Pelham  afore  said  by  his  Answer  in  Writing  to 
the  said  Inhabitants  qualified  by  Law  to  vote  in  the  choice  of  a  Minister 
these  legally  met  in  Town  Meeting  accepted  their  Invitation  &  Call  afore- 
said and  the  said  Inhabitants  of  said  Pelham  promised  and  obligated  them- 
selves and  successors  Inhabitants  of  said  Pelham  that  in  Case  he  the  said 
Abercrombie  would  settle  and  be  ordained  their  Minister  to  pay  him  the 
annual  salery  of  fifty  Pounds  to  be  fixed  at  the  then  Value  of  Bills  of 
the  New  Tenor  in  Case  of  Depreciation  for  every  year  after  his  settling  so 
long  as  he  should  continue  their  Minister  and  further  comply  with  and  per- 
form all  the  other  Terms  and  Conditions  by  him  required  in  his  Answer 
aforesaid  and  that  in  pursuance  of  the  Call  &  Choice  made  of  him  said 
Robert  by  and  with  the  advice  of  three  Neighboring  Ministers  he  on  the 
29*''  day  of  August  1744  at  Said  Pelham  was  duly  ordained  Minister  and 
Pastor  of  the  same  Town  &  the  Church  to  be  gathered  therein,  and  that  he 
is  and  then  was  a  person  qualified  as  the  Law  requires  for  the  Ministerial 
ofiice  and  has  ever  since  continued  their  settled  Minister  and  Pastor  and 
during  the  whole  time  performed  and  discharged  the  proper  functions  of 
his  office  and  Trust  aforesaid  and  on  the  9"'  of  September  last  four  of  said 
annual  Sums  or  yearly  Salery  at  the  rate  aforesaid  for  years  then  Compleat 
being  of  the  value  of  Forty  four  Pounds  nine  shillings  lawful  money  for  each 
year  became  due  and  arrear  being  in  the  Whole  one  hundred  &  Seventy 
seven  Pounds  Sixteen  shillings,  yet  the  Defendants  tho  often  requested 
have  not  paid  the  same  nor  any  part  thereof  but  neglect  and  refuse  to  pay 
it  to  the  Damage  of  the  Plaintiff  two  hundred  Pounds  all  which  is  more 
largely  set  forth  in  the  Plaintiffs  writ  on  File.  This  Case  was  originally 
commenced  at  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  held  at  Northampton 
on  the  2"^  Tuesday  of  February  last  when  and  where  the  Parties  entered  into 
a  rule  of  Court  to  refer  to  the  Case  with  all  Contracts  Actions  Disputes 
Controversaies  and  Demands  respecting  any  personal  Matters  subsisting 
between  them  as  per  Records  of  s'^  Court  appears.  And  now  the  Referees 
to  whom  the  Case  &c  was  referred  Report  that  they  met  at  Pelham  where 
the  Pltf"  &  y*^  Dfts  by  their  Agent  were  present  who  agreed  to  refer  to  their 
Consideration  the   Matters  Contained  in  the  Writ  only  and  that  after  a  full 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  309 

hearing  of  the  Parties  tliereon  they  adjudge  and  determine  that  the  said 
Robert  shall  recover  of  the  said  Inhabitants  of  said  Pelham  thirty  Pounds, 
one  shilling  and  Eight  Pence  &  Cost  of  Court  together  with  the  Cost  of 
this  Reference  and  the  Cost  of  the  Referees. 

It  is  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  Pltf  shall  recover  against 
the  Defts   the  sum  of  thirty  Pounds  one  shilling  and  Eight  pence  lawful 
Money  Damages  and  Cost  of  Court  with  the  Cost  of  the  Referees  as  per 
Bill  allowed  at  Nine  Pounds  Eleven  Shillings  and  Eight  Pence. 
Execution  issued  6  July  1759." 

The  receipts  or  discharges  which  Mr.  Abercrombie  gave  when 
money  was  paid  him  on  his  salary  has  his  peculiar  autograph  and 
hand  writing.     Space  is  allowed  for  one  of  them. 

Now  that  the  long  drawn  out  lawsuit  against  the  town  which  Mr. 
Abercrombie  had  been  pushing  since  his  dismission  had  been  settled 
it  would  seem  but  a  natural  result  of  such  long  continued  litigation 
that  the  people  of  the  town  would  feel  incensed,  and  perhaps  a  revenge- 
ful spirit  developed  which  would  seek  an  opportunity  to  get  even 
with  their  former  pastor  should  a  favorable  opportunity  present  itself. 
But  the  people  did  not  seem  to  be  affected  that  way,  or  to  lose  respect 
for  him  in  the  least,  so  far  as  we  may  judge  by  recorded  action.  An 
opportunity  to  display  revengeful  feeling  toward  Mr.  Abercrombie, 
if  any  such  feeling  existed,  came  very  soon. 

In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  Oct.  2d.  1760,  was  the  follow- 
ing article. 

"  To  see  if  the  town  Will  agree  to  Petition  the  General  Court  to  Have  all 
the  unlniproven  Land  taxed  for  two  years  at  one  penny  per  acer  to  finish 
the  Meetinghouse  and  Charges  arising  on  the  town  except  what  Land  Mr. 
Abercrombie  owns." 

Recorded  action  upon  the  above  article  : 

"Voted  that  they  Prefer  a  Pettion  to  the  General  Court  to  Have 
all  the  unlmproven  Land  taxed  for  two  year  at  one  Penny  pr  acer 
Except  what  Land  Mr.  Abercrombie  owns. 

Thomas  Dick,   Moderator." 

At  this  distance  we  cannot  understand  why  Mr.  Abercrombie 
should  be  exempt  from  taxation  on  such  lands  as  he  owned  that  it 
was  proposed  to  tax,  and  can  conceive  of  no  reason  for  making  an 
exception  in  his  favor  unless  it  was  because  of  the  great  esteem  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  people  of  the  town,  who,  remembering  his 
services  as  their  minister  for  ten  years  were  still  desirous  of  showing 
their  great  regard  for  him  when  a  fitting  opportunity  presented  itself. 
Whether   the  recorded    vote  was  unanimous  does  not  appear,  but 


3IO  HISTORY    OF     I'EI.HA.M,     MASS. 

there  is  no  recorded  protest  against  the  action  taken,  and  yet  the 
people  were  not  haking  or  backward  in  recording  a  protest  against 
anything  that  it  was  possible  to  protest  against.  They  seemed  at 
times  to  be  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  record  a  protest. 

In  a  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  Dec.  2,  1763,  article  4  reads  as 
follows  : 

"  Fourtlily  To  see  if  the  town  will  agree  to  free  Mr.  Abercrombie's  Party 
from  paying  their  respective  Proportion  of  Mr.  Oaham's  Settlement  & 
yearly  Sallery  and  Consent  that  they  and  all  such  as  Joyn  with  them  in  this 
requist  may  be  allowed  to  Pay  there  several  Proportions  of  Yearly  Sallery 
to  Mr.  Abercrombie.'" 

On  this  article  the  recorded  action  was, — "  Voted  that  there  is 
nothing  acted  on  the  Fourth  article  of  this  warrant." 

This  action  of  the  town  was  the  cause  of  the  Abercrombie  party 
taking  their  case  to  the  General  Court,  and  the  town  was  obliged  to 
take  notice  of  a  citation  which  had  been  served  upon  the  town  of 
the  petition  which  had  been  filed  at  Boston,  giving  the  town  oppor- 
tunity to  oppose  its  being  granted. 

The  persistence  of  Mr.  Abercrombie's  friends  in  clinging  to  him 
is  shown  by  their  action  in  petitioning  the  General  Court,  and  by  an 
article  in  a  warrant  for  town  meeting,  Jan.  16,  1764,  ten  years  after 
he  had  been  dismissed  and  denied  the  right  or  privilege  of  preaching 
at  Pelham. 

"Articles.  Whereas  there  has  been  a  petition  lodged  in  the  General 
Court  of  this  Province  by  a  Number  of  Petitioners  Belonging  to  this  town 
to  Wite  :— 

Some  adherents  to  Mr.  Abercrombie  and  others  to  the  Intent  that  they 
may  be  freed  from  Paying  any  Settlement  or  Sallery  to  Mr.  Graham. 

That  the  town  chuse  a  Man  or  Men  to  represent  their  case  and  make 
answer  to  the  General  Court  in  their  Nixt  Sessions,  to  said  Petition  accord- 
ing to  the  Citation  we  have  Received  from  said  Court." 

Hugh  Johnston.  Isaac  Gray,  George  Cowan,  John  Savige  and 
William  Crosett  were  chosen  a  committee  to  answer  the  said  petition. 
The  General  Court  could  not  grant  such  an  unreasonable  request 
and  they  failed  in  their  purpose  to  pay  their  assessments  for  the 
support  of  the  Gospel  to  Mr.  Abercrombie  rather  than  to  i\Ir. 
Graham. 

After  Mr.  Abercrombie's  dismissal  from  the  church  at  Pelham 
there  is  little  of  record  on  the  town  books  to  show  that  he  took  a 
very  active  part  in  town  affairs  or  that  he  preached  any  more  to  his- 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  31I 

former  people.  He  lived  on  his  farm  in  a  quiet  manner,  preaching 
occasionally  in  other  towns  ,  there  is  a  record  of  his  preaching  on 
one  occasion  at  Amherst,  and  he  probably  preached  in  other  places 
near  by  and  may  have  supplied  more  distant  churches. 

At  a  Town  Meeting,  June  21,   1774, 

The  following  vote  was  passed  :  "  Voted  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Aber- 
crombie  is  cleared  from  all  his  Rats  that  is  already  assessed  on  him, 
— also  voted  that  Mr.  Abercrombie  is  cleared  from  Paying  any  Rats 
for  the  future.  Thomas  Cochran,  Moderator." 

The  above  vote  covers  all  the  record  of  action  at  the  meeting,  and 
exhibits  the  kindly  and  generous  feeling  of  the  town  toward  their 
former  pastor. 

At  a  Town  Meeting,   April   16,    1779, 

.  "  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  was  chosen  a  committee  to  meet  other 
committees  at  Northampton  at  a  County  Convention  to  Consider 
the  question  of  a  Constitution  for  the  state."  And  at  a  meeting, 
March  23,  1780  it  was  "Voted  that  Mr.  Abercrombie  is  allowed  nine 
pounds  for  time  and  expenses  for  going  to  Northampton  in  behalf  of 
the  town."' 

This  is  believed  to  be  the  first  and  only  occasion  that  Mr.  Aber- 
crombie was  called  to  serve  the  people  of  Pelham  in  any  Public 
capacity  after  being  released  from  his  pastorate. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  Jan.  9,  1782,  near  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  and  eight  years  after  the  action  of  the  town  in  June, 
1774  clearing  Mr.  Abercrombie  from  taxes  already  assessed,  and 
also  relieving  him  from  paying  any  in  future,  there  was  an  article  in 
the  warrant  to  see  if  the  town  would  reconsider  the  vote  of  June  21, 
1774  and  it  was  voted  to  reconsider  it.  Whatever  the  reasons  were 
that  led  the  people  to  exempt  Mr.  Abercrombie  from  taxation  during 
all  the  years  of  the  war  we  may  not  be  able  to  determine,  but  it  indi- 
cates that  the  people  over  whom  he  had  been  settled  thirty  years 
before  the  vote  of  June  21,  1774  was  passed,  and  who  had  been  dis- 
missed twenty  years  when  the  exemption  was' extended,  still  retained 
so  kindly  an  interest  in  his  welfare  as  to  be  willing  to  exempt  him 
from  taxation  when  all  the  people  had  been  so  sorely  pressed  to  meet 
the  expenses  of  the  struggle  for  liberty. 


312  HISIORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

After  Mr.  Abercrombie  retired  from  active  labor  in  the  ministry 
he  seems  to  have  spent  his  life  in  tilling  his  lands  and  in  the  care  of 
his  family  of  eight  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Rev.   Robert  Abekcroimbie  and  the  Presbvjery. 

In  the  year  1755,  in  letters  to  a  friend,  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie 
gave  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery  against  him. 
In  the  same  letters  he  criticizes  their  action  and  questions  their 
authority  to  act  as  they  did  in  the  premises.  The  action  of  the 
Presbytery  caused  Mr.  Abercrombie's  suspension  from  the  exercise 
of  his  functions  as  a  minister,  and  later  his  dismission  from  the 
pastorate  at  Pelham. 

Mr.  Abercrombie  claimed  that  the  first  springs  of  differences  between 
him  and  the  Presbytery  arose  from  the  fact  that  he  could  not  comply 
with  all  the  measures  of  the  Presbytery ; — that  he  could  not  in 
faithfulness  to  his  own  convictions  do  so,  and  consequently  desired 
the  Presbytery  to  dismiss  him  from  the  pastorate  of  the  church  in 
Pelham  on  the  15th  of  June,  1748,  but  his  request  was  declined  at 
that  time  and  his  differences  with  the  Presbytery  increased. 

We  gather  from  the  printed  letters  to  a  friend,  that  certain  mem- 
bers of  the  church  at  Pelham  were  not  such  as  should  be  admitted 
to  the  sealing  ordinances  of  the  church,  as  in  the  judgment  of  Mr. 
Abercrombie,  it  would  be  contrary  to  scripture  and  to  Presbyterian 
principles.  There  seems  to  have  been  an  inclination  on  the  part  of 
some  to  be  more  liberal  in  belief  than  a  strict  disciplinarian  could 
allow,  and  until  such  members  had  purged  themselves  from  such  sins 
Mr.  Abercrombie  felt  it  his  duty  to  withhold  the  ordinance  of  baptism 
from  the  children  of  such  members.  With  this  condition  of  affairs  and 
while  his  application  for  dismissal  was  pending,  the  "  Presbytery 
proceeded  to  ordain  Rev.  Mr.  Moorehead.  Either  now  or  on  his 
return  from  Colrain  to  use  the  assistance  of  the  Session  of  Pelham 
•(in  case  Mr.  Abercrombie  declines  it)  in  inquiring  into  the  Christian 
•conversation  of  those  in  Pelham  who  have  children  to  baptize  ;  and  to 
baptize  them  whom  he  finds  upon  enquiring  to  have  the  Right  to  that 
.privilige." 

Mr.  Abercrombie  having  been  suspended  from  his  duties  this 
■action  on  the  part  of  the  Presbytery  and  of  Mr.  Moorhead  in  allow- 
ing the  children  of  unfit  parents  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  ordinance 
of  baptism,  and  without  giving  him  (Mr.  Abercrombie)  sufficient  time 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  315- 

for  consideration  before  Mr.  Moorhead  acted  in  the  matter,  was  dis- 
pleasing to  Mr.  Abercrombie  and  he  gave  in  a  paper  to  the  Presby- 
tery in  which  he  made  a  representation  or  criticism  of  the  conduct  of 
that  body.  The  document  is  long  and  able.  The  Presbytery  met  at 
Palmer,  Mass.,  Nov.  14,  1753,  and  the  document  was  received  by 
that  body  there.     The  opening  paragraph  was  as  follows: 

"  That  whereas,  next  to  the  purity  of  Doctrine,  which  belongs  to  the 
Principles,  a  Dicipline  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  which  may  regulate 
the  Practice  of  the  Members,  is  necessary  to  the  Well-being  of  every 
Christian  Society  ;  the  first  of  these  the  Presbytery  seem  to  have  taken 
some  care  of,  by  requiring  every  Probationer,  under  their  care,  to  subscribe 
to  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith  and  Catechisms:  But  I  apprehend, 
we  are  still  defective  in  the  last:  and  therefore  I  would  now  represent  some 
things  to  the  Presbytery  concerning  our  past  Conduct  and  what  I  apprehend 
to  be  our  present  Duty." 

The  representation  embraced  four  points  or  heads,  and  under  the 
first  head  he  claimed  that  the  Presbytery  should  bring  all  under  such 
regulations  that  discipline  might  be  exercised  upon  offenders,  and 
such  kept  back  from  sealing  ordinances  until  proper  satisfaction  be 
given,  and  ordinances  only  administered  to  such  as  are  found 
worthy.  Mr.  Abercrombie  claimed  that  the  admission  of  untit  per- 
sons to  sealing  ordinances  had,  he  feared,  already  been  productive  of 
many  scandals  and  offences;  and  had  "given  to  just  ground  of  com- 
plaint, to  those  who  complain  of  our  being  too  inclinable  to  favour  a 
lax  admission  to  sealing  ordinances  etc." 

Under  the   second   head  he  argued  that   it  was   necessary  for  the 

Presbytery  to   reconsider  their   sentence   in  the  affair  of  P and 

again  take  it  into  consideration  ;  in  other  words,  to  review  their  find- 
ings in  the  case,  at  the  same  time  declaring  that  the  sentence  (of 
suspension)  did  not  stand  upon  sufficient  grounds. 

Part  third  of  the  paper  is  an  argument  for  reconsideration  of  their 
determination  in  the  affairs  of  Pelham,  on  the  ground  that  the  Pres- 
bytery "  had  no  right  at  that  time  to  meddle  in  the  affair  of  baptizing 
the  children  of  that  congregation. — No  reference  was  made  to  them, 
— no  complaint  entered,  and  no  time  nor  indeed  opportunity  was 
given  to  answer  upon  that  head."  Mr.  Abercrombie  also  claimed 
that  his  being  excluded  from  the  deliberations  of  the  Presbytery  was 
what  they  had  no  right  to  do.  "  That  they  had  no  right  to  appoint 
one  to  moderate  in  the  session,  and  baptize  the  children   in  case  he 


314  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

declined;  and  that  their  conduct  in  that  point  was  both  irregular  and 
without  precedent."     Again  we  quote  : 

"  What  ignorant,  what  profane,  what  scandalous  people  will  pay  the  least 
regard  to  their  own  Ministers,  who  know  their  conduct  and  would  bring 
them  to  censure,  when  they  can  find  those  who  will  readily  administer  ordi- 
nances to  them  upon  easier  terms?" 

Further  :  "  It  is  well  known  to  any  who  are  in  the  least  acquainted  with 
the  Presbyterian  Constitution  that  where  the  Case  of  a  Minister  is  to  be 
tried,  there  are  at  least  to  be  three  Ministers  present:  Whereas,  in  the 
present  case  there  were  only  two'' 

In  the  fourth  and  last  division  of  the  paper.  Mr.  Abercrombie  calls 
attention  to  the  rules  and  principles  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Scot- 
land in  relation  to  procedure  :  "  which  declare  that  the  Constitu- 
tions, so  far  as  agreeable  to  the  Word  of  God,  is  the  rule  of  proceed- 
ure  in  our  judicatories." 

He  then  calls  attention  to  the  danger  to  the  church  that  might  be 
expected  from  the  endless  disputes  and  protestations,  "  to  the  dis- 
honor of  religion,  and  hurt,  if  not  the  utter  ruin,  of  this  society  at  the 
last,"  and  closes  with  the  following  appeal : 

"  I  hope  therefore,  the  Reverend  Presbytery  will  take  these  things  into 
serious  Consideration,  and  do  what  may  be  for  the  Glory  of  God  and  the 
edification  of  those  under  our  care.  Which  is  the  earnest  desire  of  your 
Brother  in  the  Work  of  the  Gospel.  R.  Abercromi5IE. 

Palmer,  Nov.  14,  1753." 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  "  Representation  "  sub- 
mitted by  Mr.  Abercrombie  was  considered  and  the  following  minute 
concerning  it  recorded. 

"  The  Presbytery  finding  among  their  papers  a  long  Representation  put 
in  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Abercrombie  at  their  last  session  and  left  by  the  said 
Session  to  the  Consideration  of  lliis.  in  which  are  several  things  which  at 
present  appear  Matters  of  high  Charge  Against  the  Presbytery.  \'oted 
unanimously,  that  as  the  author  of  said  paper  is  absent,  in  order  that  no 
advantage  may  be  taken  of  his  Absense,  the  Consideration  of  said  paper 
shall  be  left  till  next  session,  when  the  Author  is  expected  to  be  pre.sent,  and 
to  make  good  those  things  that  are  Matters  of  Charge,  either  against  the 
Presbytery,  or  any  particular  Member  of  it ;  and  he  is  seasonably  to  be 
served  with  a  copy  of  this  Minute.  Samuel  McClintock,  Scribe. 

A  true  copy  attest." 

The  position  taken  by  the  Presbytery  that  the  "  Representation  " 
brought  serious  charges  against  the  Presbytery  and  that  the  author 
must  appear  before  that  body  and  make  good  what  they  construed  as 
grave  charges  against  the  body  itself  or  individuals  composing  it,  and 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCRO.MBIE. 


315 


that  he  was  called  upon  to  appear  and  be  tried  before  them, — they, 
whom  he  was  charged  with  making  accusations  against,  to  be  judges, 
— was  in  Mr.  Abercrombie's  opinion,  contrary  to  the  principles  of 
the  Presbyterian  body  and  in  disregard  of  the  rules  governing  the 
Presbytery.  In  other  words  if  the  Presbytery  was  the  party  accused 
it  was  contrary  to  all  precedent  that  the  accused  should  hear  the  case 
and  render  decision. 

The  first  session  after  the  "  Representation  "  was  received,  was 
held  at  Boston,  Mr.  Abercrombie  not  being  able  to  attend.  The 
session  following  was  at  Newberry.  At  this  session  Mr.  Abercrom- 
bie was  appointed  to  preach  Mr.  Boyd's  ordination  sermon  at  Green- 
wich but  before  the  time,  received  a  message  from  Rev.  Mr.  Moor- 
head  forbidding  him  to  do  so. 

At  the  next  session,  as  Mr.  Abercrombie  claims,  the  Presbytery 
made  repeated  requests  to  have  him  withdraw  the  offensive  "  Repre- 
sentation." These  requests  were  declined,  and  being  called  upon  to 
support  the  "  Representation,"  he  respectfully  declined  to  do  so, 
because  he  was  not  to  be  heard  as  a  representer,  but  as  an  accuser, 
and  the  accused  were  to  be  his  judges. 

Mr.  Abercrombie  then  submitted  a  proposition  to  refer  the  case  to 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  church  of  Scotland,  or  to  a  number  of 
Congregational  ministers  to  be  mutually  chosen.  These  proposi- 
tions were  declined  by  the  Presbytery. 

At  this  session  Mr.  McGregorie  read  a  long  paper  covering  the 
whole  case  exhaustively, — declaring  that  the  papers  of  Mr.  Aber- 
crombie contained 

"**diverse  insinuations  and  reflections,  also  sundry  more  direct  asser- 
tions against  this  judicatory,  and  declined  their  authority.  *  *  *  Upon  the 
whole  the  Presbytery  judge  that  the  said  Mr.  Abercrombie  is  guilty  of  insin- 
uating things  against  the  Presbytery  false  and  groundless,  and  that  he  ought 
to  be  solemnly  admonished  and  rebuked  for  his  sin  against  God  and  the 
church,  and  exhorted  to  walk  with  more  circumspection  in  future. 

That  if  he  submits  to  said  rebuke,  he  will  be  esteemed  in  his  former 
standing,  with  this  Judicatory;  but  if  not  he  is  suspended  from  the  exercise 
of  his  Ministerial  office  four  weeks  from  this  time. 

Mr.  Abercrombie  being  called  upon  and  refusing  to  submit  to  the  rebuke 
the  Moderator  in  the  Name  of  the  Presbytery  proceeded  to  suspend  him 
from  the  exercise  of  the  Ministerial  office,  according  to  the  foregoing  vote. 

From  the  Minutes  of  the  Session  at  Newbury  August  20"'  1754. 

Per  Samuel  McClintock,  Scribe." 


3l6  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

A  few  days  later  a  man  was  sent  to  the  Pelham  people,  and  read 
to  them  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery,  and  by  an  order  from  that 
body  "  discharged  all  from  hearing  Mr.  Abercrombie." 

The  suspension  for  four  weeks  was  on  August  20,  1754,  and  Mr. 
Abercrombie  was  continued  under  suspension  until  the  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  in  Pelham  on  April  15,  1755.  At  the  session  of  the 
Presbytery  in  Pelham  April  15,  1755  ^^-  Abercrombie  submitted 
another  document,  addressed  as  follows  : 

"  Unto  the  Gentlemen  calling  themselves  the  Presbytery  to  meet  at  Pel- 
ham April  the  15"'  1755." 

In  this  paper  as  in  the  first  he  plead  with  them  to  receive  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  her  purest  times,  and  to  practice 
in  such  a  manner  that  immoral  and  illiterate  persons  may  not  be 
admitted  into  the  sacred  office  of  the  ministry,  and  those  unworthy 
among  the  people  may  be  kept  back  from  sealing  ordinances.  He 
declined  to  accept  them  as  worthy  to  decide  in  his  case  because  to 
quote  his  words  :  "  by  your  former  conduct  you  have  unqualified 
yourselves  to  sit  in  judgement  upon  any  case  wherein  I  am  con- 
cerned. *  *  and  I   absolutely  refuse   to   submit  to  your  judgement." 

The  closing  paragraph  of  the  paper  follows  : 

"  I  appeal  from  you  as  Judges,  unto  the  first  free  and  impartial  Synod 
Assembly  or  Council,  to  whom  I  may  in  Providence  have  access  to  apply, 
and  who  will  redress  those  injuries  you  have  done  me.  And  finally,  if  the 
all  wise  Jehovah,  in  his  adorable  Providence  see  meet  so  to  dispose  of 
matters  that  such  Synod,  Assembly  or  Council  cannot  be  obtained  in  Time, 
I  appeal  from  your  unrighteous  Judgment,  unto  the  Righteous  Judge  of  all 
the  Earth,  to  whom  I  desire  to  commit  my  cause,  before  whose  awful  bar 
you  and  I  must  ere  long  appear  to  answer  for  our  conduct,  stand  an 
impartial  trial,  and  receive  the  final  sentence,  from  which  there  is  no  appeal. 
P2ven  so.  Come  Lord  Jesus.     Amen.  R.  Abercrombie. 

Pelham,  April  15,  1755. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  the  people  of  Pelham  submitted 
a  paper  to  that  body  desiring  light  upon  the  matter  of  suspension  of 
their  pastor  and  expressing  doubt  as  to  the  legality  of  the  proceed- 
ings, and  setting  forth  at  length  their  reason  for  so  believing,  and 
closing  with  a  desire  that  the  Presbytery  give  answer  in  writing.  The 
answer  of  the  Moderator  was  that  they  had  joined  with  a  man  the 
Presbytery  had  laid  under  suspension,  and  that  going  to  hear  him 
was  against  the  wishes  of  the  Presbytery,  consequently  the  Presbytery 
had  no  more  to  do  with  them. 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE.  317 

At  a  meeting  or  session  of  the  Presbytery  at  Boston,  May  14, 
1755,  they  reported  that  they  had  proven  many  of  the  charges  against 
Mr.  Abercrombie,  although  he  was  absent  and  declared  : 

*  *  "  that  his  usefulness  at  Pelham  was  at  an  end.  Therefore  the  Presby- 
tery by  their  vote  dissolve  the  particular  relation  between  said  Mr.  Robert 
Abercrombie  and  the  Church  and  Congregation  at  Pelham  : — and  they  do 
hereby  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  great  head  of  the  Church, 
and  by  virtue  of  the  authority  committed  by  him  to  them,  actually  disolve  the 
reladon  of  Pastor  and  people  :  between  the  said  Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie 
and  the  Chnrch  and  Congregation  of  Pelham  ;  prohibite  and  discharge  him 
to  exercise  the  office  of  the  holy  ministry  or  any  part  thereof  in  said  Pelham, 
under  the  pain  of  the  highest  censure  of  the  church:  and  furder;  seeing 
Mr.  Robert  Abercrombie  has  rejected  all  proposals,  made  to  him;  by  the 
Presbytery  for  an  accomodation,  and  refuses  to  retract  from  or  make  satis- 
faction for  the  false  and  injurious  things  insinuated:  we  do  in  the  same 
name  suspend  the  said  Mr.  Abercrombie  from  the  Exercise  of  the  Ministry 
and  every  part  of  it  until  the  next  session  of  the  Presbytery,  or  such  time  as 
he  shall  be  orderly  restored  therefrom:  under  the  pain  of  Deposition. 
J.  MOORHEAD,  Mod'r. 
.Signed  per  order  Samuel  McClintock.  Clerk. 
Boston,  May  14''''  1755." 

In  criticism  of  the  decision  of  the  Presbytery  at  its  session  at  Pel- 
ham on  the  15th  of  April  1755,  Mr.  Abercrombie  remarks  to  his 
friend  : 

"  I  am  threatened  with  the  highest  Censure  of  the  Church,  if  I  exercise 
any  part  of  the  Ministry  in  Pelham.  I  should  be  glad  to  know,  whence  it 
comes  to  be  thought  so  highly  censurable  and  criminal  for  me  to  exercise 
my  Ministry  in  Pelham,  more  than  in  any  other  place.  But  not  having  the 
papers,  upon  which,  it  may  be  supposed,  this  sentence  is  founded,  I  cannot 
give  you  that  light  concerning  it,  which  I  would  desire.  I  shall  only  say 
this  Method,  that  the  Presbytery  have  taken  to  condemn  a  man,  without 
letting  him  or  the  world  know  for  what,  1  look  upon  as  mean  unreasonable 
and  injurious.  While  a  man  is  thereby  deprived  of  an  opportunity  to  clear 
up  the  truth,  to  vindicate  himself,  the  world  are  left  in  the  dark,  yea,  are 
necessarily  left  to  think  it  must  be  some  gross  immorality,  some  heinous 
crime  for  which  he  is  so  severely  treated,  and  has  such  awful  threatenings 
denounced  against  him. 

When  the  case  was  examined  at  Pelham  none  but  Messers  Moorhead, 
McGregorie,  McDowel  and  Burns  with  their  Elders  were  present. — It  is 
customary  to  change  the  Elders  every  meeting:  and  at  this,  Mr.  McUowel 
and  Elder  were  absent.  Messrs  Parsons  and  Boyd,  with  their  Elders,  now 
present,  had  7iever  heard  the  case  examiiied\  nor  those  Elders  who  were 
not  at  Pelham.  Mr.  Moorhead  was  continued  Moderator.  So  that  of  ten 
members  who  were  to  judge,  seven  had  not  heard  the  case  examined.  In. 
22 


3l8  HISTORY    OF    PKLHAM,     MASS. 

short,  if  they  gave  ^ny  judgment  it  must  not  be  thought  to  result  from  their 
own  knowledge,  upon  having  heard  the  case  and  enquired  into  the  affair ; 
but  grounded  upon  the  testimony  of  Messrs  Moorhead,  McGregorie  and 
and  Burns,  and  if  so,  I  can't  see  why  these  th?-ee  could  not  have  done  the 
business  alone;  unless  the  others  wanted  to  give  their  followers  an  exa?nple 
of  practicing  upon  the  principles  of  implicit  faith,  and  convince  them  that 
they  required  of  other  men  no  more  than  they  themselves  were  willing  to 
do.  'Tis  plain  there  was  not  a  majority  of  the  Presbytery  to  act  upon  the 
affair.  And  so  according  to  Presbyterian  Principles,  their  sentence  is  of  no 
force  and  claims  no  regard.  R.  Akercrombie. 

Pelham,  May  30,  1755." 

It  has  been  claimed  that  certain  members  of  the  church  and  soci- 
ety at  Pelham  appeared  before  the  Presbytery  and  preferred  com- 
plaints against  their  pastor.  This  was  doubtless  true,  as  there  were 
people  in  Pelham  who  protested  against  the  action  of  the  town  in 
calling  Mr.  Abercrombie  at  first,  and  may  have  carried  their  opposi- 
tion along  until  another  good  opportunity  came  to  express  it  publicly. 
In  more  recent  times  it  is  seldom  that  there  cannot  be  found  a  small 
minority  in  any  church  or  parish  that  do  not  like  the  settled  minis- 
ter whoever  he  may  be.  If  one  minister  is  dismissed  and  another 
settled,  the  same  chronic  grumblers  and  fault-finders  begin  their 
opposition  to  the  new  minister  where  they  left  off  with  the  old.  Not- 
withstanding the  fact  of  personal  opposition  to  Mr.  Abercrombie  in 
Pelham,  there  is  also  indisputable  evidence  that  he  had  a  strong  fol- 
lowing among  them  through  his  entire  ministry,  and  during  his  life 
until  his  death. 

Whatever  the  cause  or  causes  of  the  trouble  betw-een  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Abercrombie  and  the  Presbytery,  or  upon  vi'hom  rests  the  blame  for 
trouble  between  the  pastor  and  the  people  of  Pelham  it  was  most 
unfortunate  for  pastor  and  for  people, — unfortunate  for  all  concerned. 
The  absence  of  united  and  harmonious  feeling  and  action  between 
pastor  and  people  worked  for  harm  continually,  and  could  only  result 
in  preventing  the  new  settlement  from  becoming  as  strong  and  flour- 
ishing as  it  would  have  been,  had  all  of  the  disturbing  disagreements 
been  absent.  The  people  of  Pelham  should  have  been  more  largely 
benefitted  by  the  labors  of  such  an  highly  educated,  talented  man  as 
Mr.  Abercrombie,  and  would  have  profited  thereby  to  a  much  greater 
degree  had  they  been  united  in  supporting  him  by  prompt  payment 
of  salary,  and  in  giving  him  a  more  united  moral  support.  Strict 
disciplinarian  as  was  the  pastor,   it  is  possible  he    was  not  as  lenient 


REV.    ROBERT    ABERCROMBIE. 


319 


as  some  more  liberal  members  of  his  church  thought  he  should  be, 
and  too  much  inclined  to  exact  entire  and  unquestioned  compliance 
with  the  Westminster  Confession  of  Faith.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
mind  and  will,  and  his  convictions  of  duty  would  not  allow  him  to 
preach  smooth  things,  or  allow  any  falling  away  from  the  strict  letter 
of  church  discipline  without  reproof.  His  people  were  also  Scotch 
and  it  is  quite  possible  were  firmly  convinced  that  the  pastor  was  too 
exacting  and  strict  in  church  discipline,  and  disinclined  to  bow 
humbly  under  correction.  Mr.  Abercrombie  was  unfortunate  in 
having  a  strong  element  of  opposition  to  contend  with  from  his  first 
connection  with  the  people  of  Pelham  as  shown  by  the  strong  protest 
against  his  settlement.  There  was  also  a  strong  Abercrombie  ele- 
ment or  party  that  clung  to  him  for  years  after  his  connection  with 
the  church  was  severed  by  the  Presbytery. 


Stephen  Burroughs,  The  Supplyer. 


From  I  739  to  1784,  or  for  forty-five  years  the  people  of  the  town  had 
enjoyed  the  services  of  a  settled  minister  only  about  twenty-four  years. 
From  1744  to  1754,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrom- 
bie,  from  1764  to  1771  under  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham,  from 
1774  to  1 78 1  under  Rev.  Nathaniel  Merrill.  During  all  the  years  not 
covered  by  the  pastorates  of  these  three  eminent  ministers  the  town 
had  received  the  Gospel  from  supplyers  ;  sometimes  through  the  aid 
and  recommendation  of  the  Presbytery,  at  other  times  by  their  own 
exertions  in  securing  a  preacher.  The  cause  of  this  state  of  things, 
judging  from  what  the  records  contain  of  the  troubles  and  trials  of 
the  people  lay  largely  with  the  people  themselves.  They  were  all 
sturdy  and  zealous  in  their  belief,  conscientious  and  scrupulous  in 
the  matter  of  discipline, — consequently  each  man  considered  his 
individual  ideas  and  opinions  those  that  should  be  adopted.  The 
result  was  a  division  of  opinion  and  no  spirit  of  concession  for  sake 
of  harmony  and  unity. 

Mr.  Abercrombie  continued  to  live  in  the  town  after  his  dismis- 
sion, and  the  strong  minority  of  followers  and  adherents  which  his 
presence  in  the  town  kept  together  and  active  in  their  allegience  to 
him,  could  not  fail  to  have  a  discordant  effect,  and  had  a  tendency 
to  prevent  unanimity  and  harmony  in  the  matter  of  calling  a  new 
minister,  as  well  as  tending  to  keep  up  and  encourage  dissentions. 
We  would  not  wish  the  reader  to  think  that  we  have  any  desire  to 
charge  Mr.  Abercrombie  with  having  a  hand  in  preventing  harmoni- 
ous action  and  unity  among  the  people,  but  we  do  say  that  his  pres- 
ence in  the  town,  and  the  loyalty  of  his  friends,  must  have  been 
harmful  rather  than  beneficial,  and  we  can  but  feel  that  to  this  fact 
among  others,  the  trouble  in  settling  and  retaining  men  in  the  pas- 
toral relation  was  due. 

That  ministers  without  settlements  were  not  very  numerous  is 
attested  by  the  records  showing  where  men  were  paid  for  journeying 
to  "  the  Jersey  College  and  to  Pennsylvania  after  a  minister,"  and 
there  is  a  possibility  that  the  good  deacons  of  Pelham  became  a 
little  careless  in  demanding  the  fullest  and  undoubted  endonsen-ent 
before  accepting  the  services  of  a  supplyer. 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  32 1 

However  this  may  have  been  it  is  certain  that  a  Godless  adven- 
turer at  last  obtained  entrance  to  the  pulpit  and  was  accepted  as 
supplyer  for  a  limited  period. 

The  reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  at  this  time  nearly  all  travel 
over  the  country  was  on  horseback  or  on  foot,  and  that  the  means  of 
communication  by  mail  were  at  long  intervals  and  uncertain,  It  was 
not  as  easy  to  learn  the  antecedants  of  men  as  now.  There  was  no 
quick  communication  by  railroad,  telegraph  or  telephone, — no  daily 
mail, — no  detective  agencies  through  which  the  records  of  suspicious 
persons  could  be  looked  up.  The  ministerial  ofhce  was  above  sus- 
picion. A  ministerial  imposter  and  deceiver  was  unheard  of,  and 
yet  the  continual  demand  for  supplyers  was  the  means  of  these  good 
people  having  experience  with  a  first-class  specimen  of  the  genus  so 
much  more  common  now  than  then.  The  reader  should  be  charit- 
able in  his  consideration  of  the  experience  of  these  people  at  Pelham, 
having  in  mind  their  environment,  and  compare  it  with  that  of  other 
towns  and  communities  which  have  had  experience  with  the  hypo- 
critical religious  cheat,  and  ministerial  wolves  in  sheep's  clothing, 
and  who  have  been  deceived  and  cheated  by  such  graceless  imposters, 
while  every  modern  facility  for  enquiry  and  investigation  was  at 
hand. 

Stephen  Burroughs:   Alias  Rev.  Mr.  Davis. 

On  a  Tuesday  afternoon  in  April  or  May  1784,  a  bright  active 
young  man  nineteen  years  of  age,  rode  up  the  steep  hillside  highway 
to  Pelham,  West  Hill.  He  sought  Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray  and  pre- 
sented a  letter  of  recommendation  written  by  Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin,  then 
minister  at  Palmer,  which  introduced  the  young  man  as  Rev.  Mr. 
Davis,  and  as  one  well  equipped  to  discharge  the  duties  of  supplyer 
for  the  pulpit  of  the  church  at  Pelham,  at  that  time  without  a  settled 
minister,  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill  having  been  dismissed.  Dea.  Gray  read  the 
letter  of  Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin  and  having  great  confidence  in  the  latter  as 
a  man  of  piety  and  good  judgment,  he  consulted  with  other  prominent 
members  of  the  church  to  whom  Mr.  Baldwin's  letter  was  submitted. 
The  result  of  the  careful  consideration  of  the  letter  and  its  recom- 
mendation, including  the  fact  that  the  young  man  had  preached 
acceptably  to  the  good  people  of  Ludlow  the  previous  Sunday,  was, 
that  they  engaged  the  applicant  as  supplyer  for  four  weeks  at  five 
dollars  per  Sunday  beside  board  and  horsekeeping. 


32: 


HISIORY    OF    I'ELHAM,     MASS. 


The  young  man's  garb  at  the  time  was  anything  but  ministerial,  or 
that  would  be  considered  so  at  the  present  day.  He  wore  a  light 
gray  coat  with  silver-plated  buttons,  green  vest  and  red  velvet 
knee  breeches,  and  seems  to  have  entered  upon  his  duties  as  supplyer 
without  any  objection  being  made  to  his  unministerial  robes.  Possi- 
bly they  might  have  supposed  that  he  had  more  fitting  raiment  for 
the  pulpit  within  his  capacious  saddle-bags.  Whatever  he  may  have 
had  in  the  way  of  clothing  within  the  saddle-bags,  he  did  have  ten 
old  sermons  written  by  his  father  which  he  had  purloined  on  leaving 
home.  These  sermons  were  his  only  reliance  for  success  in  his  new 
field  of  labor  in  addition  to  his  abundant  assurance,  fearlessness 
and  cheek,  with  which  he  was  well  equipped. 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS. 

There  seems  to  have  been  satisfaction  with  the  preaching  of  the 
new  supplyer  during  the  four  weeks  of  his  engagement,  as  a  new  con- 
tract was  then  made  with  him  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  four  months 
longer. 

It  was  not  long  after  he  entered  upon  the  performance  of  the 
duties  of  his  second  engagement  before  some  of  the  watchful  ones 
began  to  have  certain  vague  suspicions  that  the  new  supplyer  was 
not  all  that  he  claimed  to  be,  and  might  be  more  and  worse  than  he 
claimed  ; — the  people  became  suspicious,  consequently  watchful, 
and  alert. 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  323 

Deaths  occurred  among  these  hardy  people  occasionally  and  there 
was  at  least  one  death  during  the  ministrations  of  this  bright  but 
wicked  pretender,  and  the  supplyer  officiated  at  the  funeral.  Sermons 
were  required  often  at  funerals  among  these  people  at  that  time,  and 
it  is  said  that  this  funeral  being  at  a  private  house  the  supplyer  did 
not  have  a  position  where  he  could  easily  read  his  sermon  and  at  the 
same  time  be  sure  that  none  present  could  get  a  glimpse  of  it.  Some 
one  present  looked  over  his  shoulder  and  saw  that  the  manuscript 
did  not  have  the  fresh,  crisp  appearance  that  should  mark  the  newly 
written  sermon  ;  on  the  contrary  it  was  yellow  and  dingy  with  age, 
and  this  fact  being  noised  about  roused  a  suspicion  that  the  supplyer 
was  preaching  old  sermons,  and  not  of  his  own  composition. 

The  suspicion  ba.sed  upon  what  was  seen  at  the  funeral  was  spread 
from  man  to  man  until  the  whole  town  was  discussing  the  situation. 
Doubtless  this  topic  was  the  main  one  for  days,  until  the  ability  of 
the  new  supplyer  to  write  a  sermon,  or  to  preach  without  obtaining 
one  already  written  became  seriously  questioned.  This  was  a  very 
important  matter  for  the  Scotch  Presbyterians,  and  a  plan  was  laid  to 
test  the  young  supplyer's  ability  to  preach  without  a  written  sermon 
of  his  own  or  another's  composition,  and  the  plan  was  carried  out. 
The  following  Sunday,  a  short  time  before  the  supplyer  entered  the 
church,  he  received  a  call  from  the  leading  members  and  was 
requested  to  preach  from  the  words  found  in  the  first  clause  of  the 
fifth  verse  of  the  ninth  chapter  of  Joshua, — which  reads  as  follows: 
"  And  old  shoes  and  clouted  upon  their  feet". 

The  supplyer  without  any  show  of  surprise  or  appearance  of  being 
disconcerted,  walked  up  the  winding  stairs  to  the  high  pulpit  and 
opened  the  services  preliminary  to  the  sermon,  and  having  only  the 
intervening  time  to  think  out  a  sermon  based  upon  such  a  strange 
and  barren  passage  of  scripture  as  the  one  thrust  upon  him. 

He  seems  to  have  been  equal  to  the  situation  however,  and  with  a 
coolness  and  deliberation  worthy  of  a  more  honest  man  and  a  less 
solemn  occasion,  he  proceeded  to  preach  a  sermon  that  commanded 
the  attention  of  the  audience,  and  at  the  same  time  convinced  his 
critics  of  his  ability  to  preach  an  old  sermon  or  a  new  one,  if  written, 
— more  than  that, — it  satisfied  them  of  his  ability  to  preach  without 
any  sermon  at  all,  though  they  might  not  have  accepted  with  becom- 
ing grace  the  personal  application  of  the  subject  with  which  he  scored 
them   at   the   close.      His  exordium  consisted  of  a  short  narrative  of 


324 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


the  Gibeonites,  and  a  history  of  their  dupHcity  in  general  and 
toward  the  Jews  especially.  The  subject  was  divided  into  three 
heads  : 

First — The  place  of  shoes. 

Second — The  significance  of  old  shoes. 

Third — Of  clouted  shoes. 

Under  the  first  head  he  discussed  the  nature  and  use  of  shoes, — 
calling  attention  to  the  fact  that  man  is  but  a  sojourner  in  the  world 
for  a  season  ;  all  traveling  to  another  and  better  state  of  existence 
where  all  would  arrive  at  last.  He  dwelt  upon  the  necessity  of  being 
prepared  for  the  journey,  of  being  well  and  fittingly  shod  to  render 
the  journey  easy;  that  the  truly  good  man  was  careful  to  have  his  feet 
shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  Gospel  of  peace.  He  called  upon 
them  to  remember  that  there  was  no  such  thing  as  remaining  inactive 
during  this  earthly  probation,  all  are  moving  rapidly  forward  to  their 
final  end  ;  and  the  way  is  not  smooth, — it  is  filled  with  stones  as  well 
as  briars  and  thorns,  and  unless  well  shod,  we  are  wounded  at  every 
step.  Mankind  has  learned  that  the  way  is  rough  and  thorny  and 
seeks  such  covering  for  the  feet  as  they  imagine  will  be  a  sure 
protection. 

Secondly,  of  old  shoes  ; — he  informed  his  hearers  they  represented 
those  who  had  been  hewing  for  themselves  broken  cisterns  that  could 
hold  no  water.  Generation  after  generation  follow  each  other  on  the 
same  road. — they  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  those  that  have  gone 
before  them,  and  their  feet  are  shod  with  the  same  old  shoes. 

The  old  shoes  also  represent  old  sins.  The  spirit  of  jealousy  and 
discord,  of  suspicion  and  lack  of  confidence  among  men  is  but  a 
display  of  old  sins, — of  old  shoes  that  are  as  old  as  any  worn.  Jeal- 
ousy is  an  old  sin,  and  of  this  old  sin  Solomon  said  "Jealousy  is 
more  cruel  than  the  grave.''  It  causes  men  to  hate  each  other, — it 
breaks  up  and  destroys  churches  and  all  organizations  wherever 
it  is  allowed  to  enter.  Woe  be  to  those  who  cherish  and  nourish  the 
seeds  of  jealousy. 

Thirdly,  of  clouted  shoes. — Those  who  wear  old  shoes,  who  become 
suspicious  and  jealous  of  their  fellowmen  know  very  well  how  hateful 
and  odious  they  become  to  all  who  are  subjected  to  their  wicked 
practices.  Ministers  and  people,  husbands  and  wives,  parents  and 
children  fall  a  sacrifice  to  this  unseemly  jealousy.  Such  people  know 
this  is  all  wrong,   know  that  it  is  sinful  and  are   ashamed,   and    they 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS. 


325 


have  recourse  to  patching  and  clouting ;  they  cover  themselves  with 
false  pretenses  to  hide  their  deserved  shame  and  disgrace. 

Jealousy  is  a  most  debasing  sin,  and  the  least  excusable  of  all. 
My  hearers,  he  said,  you  know  that  when  this  sin  has  taken  posses- 
sion of  your  souls  all  comforts  and  joys  flee  away,  and  this  first  born 
son  of  hell  triumphed  in  your  bosoms.  O  jealousy,  that  green-eyed 
monster  that  makes  the  meat  it  feeds  on. 

The  conclusion  of  the  sermon  from  this  strange  text  was  a  sting- 
ing application  of  the  subject  which  must  have  made  the  suspicious 
Scotchmen  writhe  under  the  lash  laid  upon  them  by  this  nineteen 
years  old  stripling,  from  the  high  pulpit  of  the  old  meeting  house. 

"  My  Hearers,  where  shall  I  apply  this  doctrine  ?  Is  it  calculated 
for  a  people  only  at  some  great  distance  ?  Can  we  not  bring  it 
home,  even  to  our  own  doors?  Search  and  see.  Try  yourselves  by 
the  sanctuary  and  if  there  your  garments  are  not  washed  in  inno- 
cence, you  will  find  '  Mene,  Mene,  tekel  upharsin  '  written  on  your 
walls.  Will  you  suffer  this  hateful  monster  to  rage  among  you  ? 
Will  you  wear  these  old  filthy  clouted  shoes  any  longer  ?  Will  you 
not  rather  be  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the  Gospel  of  peace  ?" 

The  people  who  had  selected  the  text  for  the  "  Supplyer  "  under 
the  suspicion  that  he  had  been  preaching  sermons  written  by  others 
because  he  was  unable  to  write  them  himself  were  abundantly  sat- 
isfied that  it  was  not  necessary  for  him  to  write  sermons  in  order  to 
preach,  and  they  were  comparatively  quiet  for  awhile.  The  supplyer 
had  preached  the  four  Sundays  that  Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray  with  the 
advice  of  other  prominent  members  of  the  church  had  hired  him  for 
and  had  begun  on  his  second  engagement  of  sixteen  Sundays  at  five 
dollars  per  Sunday  besides  board  and  horsekeeping.  He  had  secured 
for  himself  more  fitting  clothing,  and  had  purchased  a  new  horse, 
saddle  and  bridle;  had  disposed  of  the  horse  and  outfit  that  he  first 
came  to  town  with  and  he  seemed  to  be  going  along  swimmingly.  But 
there  was  trouble  in  store  for  this  wicked  pretender  that  all  of  his 
smartness  failed  to  avoid.  No  one  of  his  acquaintances  knew  where 
young  Burroughs  was  or  what  he  was  doing  save  Joseph  Huntingdon, 
a  young  man  whom  he  had  known  at  Dartmouth  college.  Burroughs 
kept  up  a  correspondence  with  Huntingdon  and  the  latter  proposed 
to  visit  Pelham  on  his  way  from  College  to  his  home  in  Coventry, 
Conn.,  sometime  in  September,  1784. 

Joseph   Huntingdon   came  to  Pelham   and   remained   several  days 


326  HISTORY    OK    P'KLHAM,     MASS. 

and  during  his  stay  on  several  occasions  addressed  the  pretender 
Davis,  by  his  true  name  Burroughs.  This  was  noticed  by  those  that 
heard  it  and  it  excited  suspicion  that  Davis  was  not  his  real  name. 
Huntingdon,  concluded  his  visit,  and  set  out  on  a  Monday  morning 
forCoventy,  Conn.,  on  horseback.  Burroughs  accompanied  him,  and 
when  the  two  young  fellows  were  riding  past  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Forward,  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  Belchertown.  the  latter  came 
forth  and  desired  them  to  call,  saying  that  Rev.  Mr.  Chapin  from 
Windsor  was  within  and  he  wished  Davis  or  Burroughs  to  make  his 
acquaintance. 

Burroughs  knew  Chapin  already  and  declined,  stating  that  he  was 
in  haste  to  move  on  with  his  friend  Huntingdon,  but  while  making 
excuses,  Rev.  Mr.  Chapin  came  forth  from  Mr.  Forward's  house  and 
addressed  the  supplyer  as  Burroughs.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  tried  to 
convince  Chapin  that  his  name  was  Davis.  Chapin  was  not  deceived 
by  talk  of  that  sort  and  persisted  that  he  knew  the  man  before  him 
and  that  his  name  was  not  Davis  but  Burroughs.  Burroughs  and 
Huntingdon  then  rode  on  towards  Palmer,  the  former  leaving  Mr. 
Forward  and  Mr.  Chapin  with  not  a  little  assumed  indignation  at 
being  addressed  as  Burroughs  instead  of  Davis. 

J>urroughs  and  Huntingdon  parted  some  distance  below  Ijelcher- 
town.  Huntingdon  to  pursue  his  journey  to  Coventry,  Conn.,  and 
Burroughs  turned  back  towards  Pelham.  by  the  same  road  that  led 
past  Mr.  Forward's  house  :  and  after  passing  the  house  he  heard 
some  one  shouting  from  the  parsonage  to  him  calling  Mr.  Davis,  and 
also  Mr.  Burroughs,  but  he  turned  not  back.  Continuing  along  the 
hilly  road  toward  Pelham,  the  supplyer  had  time  to  reflect  upon  the 
effect  which  the  unpleasant  interview  with  Mr.  Chapin  and  Mr. 
Forward  would  have  upon  the  people  of  his  charge  at  Pelham  when 
they  came  to  know  all  about  it  as  it  was  plain  they  would,  the  next 
day  at  farthest,  when  his  true  name  and  character  would  be  laid  bare 
to  the  people  of  Pelham,  already  suspicious,  and  who  lacked  but  the 
information  that  Mr.  Chapin  could  give  them  to  cause  the  indigna- 
tion of  the  people  to  burst  forth  and  fall  upon  him  in  full  measure. 
He  had  preached  fifteen  of  the  sixteen  Sundays  of  his  second  engage- 
ment, and  to  meet  the  cost  of  new  and  fitting  ministerial  robes  and  his 
new  horse,  saddle  and  bridle  had  drawn  all  the  salary  that  would  be 
due  after  another  .Sunday's  labors  should  be  given,  and  as  any  further 
engagement  was  now  impossible,  he  hastily  decided  upon  leaving  the 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  327 

town  without  the  formality  of  bidding  the  people  farewell.  Arriving 
at  his  boarding  place  at  Pelham  that  evening  he  put  his  horse  in  the 
usual  place  at  the  barn  and  went  to  bed  as  usual.  When  the  family 
were  all  asleep  he  gathered  his  personal  effects  together,  passed 
quietly  from  the  house,  took  his  horse  from  the  stable,  mounted  and 
rode  to  the  house  of  a  trusted  friend  whom  he  calls  Lysander.  Who 
this  man  was  or  in  what  part  of  the  town  he  lived  is  not  known, 
probably  in  the  easterly  part.  To  Lysander  he  told  the  incidents  of 
the  day  and  what  would  befall  him  on  the  morrow  if  he  fell  into  the 
clutches  of  those  before  whom  he  had  been  parading  as  a  minis- 
ter. Lysander  secreted  the  guilty  pretender  in  his  house  and  hid  the 
horse  in  his  barn,  and  then  they  waited  to  see  what  a  day  would 
bring  forth. 

When  the  landlord  of  Davis,  the  supplyer,  rose  on  that  bright 
September  morning  in  1784  and  learned  that  his  guest  of  the  summer 
had  departed  in  the  night,  leaving  not  a  trace,  he  was  greatly  astonished 
and  excited.  He  informed  the  neighbors  and  the  news  spread  like 
wildfire.  A  man  came  from  Belchertown  and  gave  information 
showing  that  the  supplyer  who  said  his  name  was  Davis  was  a  fraud 
and  impostor,  which  added  fuel  to  the  flames  of  indignation  that 
had  begun  to  blaze.  The  whole  town  was  in  uproar.  They  mounted 
their  horses  and  rode  in  all  directions  seeking  for  information  that 
would  lead  to  the  discovery  of  Davis,  just  what  they  proposed  to 
do  if  they  could  find  him  cannot  be  clearly  understood  now  but  it  is 
enough  to  know  that  those  good  people  had  been  outraged,  scandal- 
ized, by  this  unsanctified  pretender  who  had  been  occupying  the 
sacred  desk  of  their  meeting  house,  and  they  were  all  intent  upon 
discovering  the  way  he  had  gone  and  his  whereabouts  if  possible. 

During  all  that  day  of  exciting  thought  and  action  among  the 
people  Burroughs  was  in  the  house  of  his  friend,  Lysander,  and  a 
witness  of  the  hurrying  to  and  fro  of  the  angry  people  to  whom  he 
had  been  preaching  for  five  months. 

About  12  o'clock  at  night,  after  the  people  had  quieted  down. 
Burroughs  mounted  his  horse  and  took  leave  of  his  friend  Lysander 
and  family  and  rode  out  into  the  darkness,  going  eastward  towards 
Greenwich.  He  could,  and  doubtless  did  have  a  review  of  the  past 
five  months  of  his  life  in  Pelham,  now  so  suddenly  terminated  as  he 
rode  out  of  the  town  alone  in  the  darkness  of  night.  About  one 
o'clock  Burroughs  overtook  a  man  in  the  town  of  Greenwich   named 


,328  HrsrORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Powers  whom  he  had  known  before  coming  to  Pelham.  He  accused 
Powers  with  having  been  searching  for  himself  whh  the  Pelham 
people,  which  Powers  at  first  denied  but  later  confessed  that  it  was 
true.  Burroughs  explained  the  situation  to  Powers  and  endeavored 
to  have  the  latter  promise  not  to  divulge  his  whereabouts.  Powers 
hesitated  and  then  Burroughs  frightened  him  into  taking  a  solemn 
oath  that  he  would  not,  and  they  rode  along  together  until  Powers 
reached  his  house  and  Burroughs  kept  on,  having  decided  to  ride  to 
Rutland,  and  reached  there  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

As  soon  as  Burroughs  had  parted  with  Powers  the  latter  forgot 
his  oath  and  turned  back  to  Pelham,  giving  the  alarm  and  rousing  the 
people  into  the  greatest  excitement  again  on  learning  the  direction 
Burroughs  had  taken. 

A  goodly  number  saddled  their  horses  and  pushed  on  after  the 
fieeing  imposter.  Burroughs  was  in  the  store  of  a  friend  named 
Frink  when  he  heard  the  tramping  of  horses  hoofs.  Looking  out 
the  window  near  which  he  was  standing  he  recognized  a  crowd  of  Pel- 
ham people  rushing  into  town  on  horseback,  and  he  very  well  knew  the 
errand  that  brought  them  there.  His  first  thought  was  to  elude 
them  by  flight  ;  he  made  a  rush  for  the  rear  door  of  his  friend's  store 
or  shop,  when  near  the  door  he  met  a  Mr.  Conkey,  one  of  the  angry 
Pelham  men,  who  tried  to  lay  hold  of  him.  Burroughs  struck 
Conkey  across  the  arm  with  a  stick  with  such  force  as  to  break  his 
arm.  Rushing  past  Conkey,  now  disabled,  he  ran  around  the  end 
of  the  shop  or  store  and  turning  the  corner  he  met  two  of  the  Pelham 
deacons  ;  turning  again  to  avoid  them,  all  of  the  angry  Pelham 
people  gave  chase,  shouting  '•  Stop  him!  Stop  him  !"  as  they  chased 
Burroughs  down  the  hill.  The  fact  of  being  pursued  by  the  people 
he  had  been  preaching  to  for  the  past  five  months,  the  shouting, 
and  not  very  complimentary  language  of  his  pursuers  angered  their 
late  Supplyer  and  he  halted,  picked  up  a  stone  and  faced  them,  declar- 
ing that  he  would  kill  the  first  man  who  came  near  him.  At  this 
defiant  attitude,  the  pursuers  all  halted  in  astonishment  except  Dr. 
Hinds,  a  prominent  man  of  Pelham,  who  coming  within  reach  of 
Burroughs,  received  a  blow  on  the  head  which  felled  him  to  the 
ground.  Burroughs  seeing  a  crowd  of  Ruthxnd  peo])le  coming  to  see 
what  it  was  all  about,  moved  forward  towards  a  small  barn,  his  late 
people  following  at  a  respectful  distance.  Entering  the  barn,  he 
climbed  to  the  top  of  the  haymow,   taking  a  scythe  snath  along  for 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  329' 

defense.  Rutland  people  came  into  the  barn  with  the  angry  men  from 
Pelham,  and  the  former  wanted  to  know  what  the  disagreement  was 
based  upon. 

Deacon  McMullen  of  Pelham  then  explained  that  the  man  on  the 
haymow  was  an  imposter  who  had  come  to  Pelham,  calling  his  name 
Davis  while  it  was  Burroughs  and  had  grossly  deceived  them  by 
claiming  to  be  a  preacher,  and  preached  to  them  all  summer,  and 
they  had  paid  him  for  one  Sunday  that  he  had  not  preached. 

The  last  statement  seemed  to  strike  the  Rutland  people  as  wrong,, 
but  as  the  Sunday  had  not  yet  come  on  which  he  had  been  engaged 
to  preach,  it  constituted  a  mitigating  circumstance. 

Deacon  McMullen  then  charged  that  Burroughs  had  nearly  killed 
Dr.  Hinds  and  Mr.  Conkey  and  ought  to  be  arrested  and  punished,. 
he  also  spoke  of  the  intimidation  and  threatening  of  Powers  at  Green- 
wich the  previous  night. 

There  was  a  wordy  discussion  between  the  pursuers  of  Burroughs 
from  Pelham  and  the  Rutland  people  who  had  followed  into  the  barn 
where  Burroughs  had  taken  refuge.  Dea.  McMullen  and  the  party 
with  him  insisted  that  the  law  should  take  hold  of  Burroughs,  and 
the  Rutland  people  were  not  sure  that  he  had  done  any  great  wrong 
by  preaching  under  an  assumed  name  if  his  preaching  was  good  ; 
neither  did  they  think  that  collecting  money  in  advance  for  a 
Sunday's  preaching,  that  he  had  not  given  them,  was  any  very  grave 
offense.  Finally  the  Rutlanders  proposed,  that  as  Burroughs  had 
collected  five  dollars  of  the  Pelham  people  beyond  what  he  had  given 
an  equivalent  for,  the  whole  business  should  be  settled  up  by  an 
adjournment  to  Wood's  tavern  where  Burroughs  was  to  expend  the 
five  dollars  at  the  bar  for  the  benefit  of  all  those  who  were  thirsty, 
whether  native  Rutlanders  or  people  from  Pelham.  This  proposition 
was  finally  adopted.  Burroughs  descended  from  the  hay  loft,  where  he 
had  climbed  for  safety,  and  the  party  went  to  the  tavern  where 
Burroughs  called  for  drinks  for  all  hands,  and  an  era  of  good  feeling 
and  satisfaction  was  rapidly  setting  in  when  Dr.  Hinds,  who  had 
been  knocked  down  for  venturing  to  near  while  Burroughs  was 
retreating  to  the  barn,  put  in  an  appearance  and  began  to  foam  with 
rage  at  the  turn  things  had  taken.  Dr.  Hinds  was  a  prominent  man 
in  I^elham,  was  the  heaviest  tax  payer  as  well  as  a  noted  physician  at 
home, — and  smarting  under  the  pain  of  the  blow  from  the  stone  in 
the  hands  of    Burroughs  was    in    no    mood    to    condone    the    grave 


33  o 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


offences  of  an  imposter,  such  as  he  had  ridden  from  Pelham  to  Rut- 
land to  overhaul.  There  was  a  consultation  between  the  leading 
Pelham  men  to  decide  upon  what  their  action  should  be,  and  it  is 
said  they  decided  to  take  Burroughs  back  to  Pelham.  The  result  of 
the  consultation  and  the  decision  to  force  their  late  supplyer  to  go 
back  to  Pelham  was  made  known  to  Burroughs  in  some  way,  prob- 
ably by  the  Rutlanders,  and  having  decided  objections  to  returning 
to  Pelham  as  a  prisoner,  he  decided  on  a  plan  to  escape.  Being  in 
a  room  on  the  second  story  of  the  tavern,  Burroughs  locked  himself 
in.  The  Pelham  men  went  to  the  room  to  take  the  fugitive  supplyer, 
finding  the  door  locked,  an  axe  was  sent  for.  Burroughs  jumped  out 
of  a  window  to  the  slooping  roof  of  a  shed  and  from  that  to  the 
ground,  landing  close  by  where  the  men  were  looking  for  an  axe  to 
break  down  the  door  of  the  room.  Burroughs  then  ran  and  obtained 
a  good  lead  before  the  fleetest  of  the  irate  Pelham  men  knew  that 
their  hoped  for  prisoner  had  escaped.  Burroughs  eluded  them. 
Being  unable  to  find  their  man,  they  gave  up  the  idea  of  taking  him 
back  with  them  and  returned  to  the  tavern,  mounted  their  horses 
and  set  out  for  Pelham,  filled  with  vexation  and  anger  over  the 
failure  of  their  expedition  to  secure  and  punish  the  wicked  supplyer. 

Burroughs  returned  to  Frink's  store  after  Dea.  McMuUen  and 
party  had  departed,  spent  the  night  in  Rutland  and  the  next  morning 
started  towards  Providence,  enquiring  as  he  travelled,  for  a  place  to 
preach.  On  the  way  to  Providence  he  learned  that  the  people  at 
Attleboro  were  without  a  preacher  and  desirous  of  obtaining  one. 

Arriving  in  Attleboro  he  offered  his  services  to  the  proper  per- 
sons and  was  engaged  for  a  short  season.  Burroughs  ministered  to 
the  people  of  Attleboro  for  four  Sundays  only,  refusing  to  remain 
longer,  because  he  had  engaged  to  preach  at  Danbur)^  Conn.,  and 
desired  to  visit  his  friend  Huntingdon  at  Coventry  in  thfe  same  state. 

While  it  is  not  our  purpose  to  go  fully  into  the  life  of  Stephen 
Burroughs  there  is  one  episode  which  should  be  given  in  connection 
with  what  has  gone  before.  Burroughs  was  intimate  with  the  man 
Lysander,  a  citizen  of  Pelham  and  with  whom  he  was  a  guest  for 
twenty-four  hours  after  he  disappeared  from  his  boarding  place  as 
already  stated.  Who  this  Lysander  was  or  what  his  family  name 
was  cannot  be  determined  with  certainty,  but  it  was  through  Lysan- 
der that  Burroughs  became  interested  in  a  process  of  transmuting 
copper  into   silver  which   Lysander  informed  him  was  known  to  one 


S'lKPHEN    BURROUGHS.  33  I 

Phillips,  who  was  working  with  the  noted  Glazier  Wheeler,  a  coun- 
terfeit money-maker  at  New  Salem.  This  secret  Phillips  had  agreed 
to  communicate  to  Lysander.  Burroughs  was  greatly  interested  in 
the  story,  and  Lysander  wished  to  have  his  friend  share  in  the  wealth 
which  he  (Lysander)  believed  was  to  come  from  transmuting  copper 
into  silver,  and  personally  had  the  greatest  confidence  in  the  practi- 
cability of  the  business,  but  his  wife  was  not  hopeful,  on  the  contrary 
was  doubtful.  In  order  to  make  sure  that  there  was  no  deception 
practiced  by  Phillips  it  was  arranged  that  Burroughs  should  accom- 
pany Lysander  to  New  Salem  and  together  witness  the  process  and 
note  results.  The  visit  was  made  in  the  night  because  it  was  thought 
it  might  cause  unpleasant  suspicions  should  it  become  known  that 
they  had  been  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Glazier  Wheeler's  place  in  the 
daytime,  especially  for  one  supplying  the  pulpit  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Pelham. 

They  arrived  at  New  Salem  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  informed 
Phillips  of  the  purpose  of  their  visit.  Phillips  kindly  consented  to 
gratify  his  visitors  with  practical  evidence  of  his  power  to  transmute 
ordinary  copper  to  the  best  of  silver. 

Phillips  weighed  out  half  an  ounce  of  copper  and  put  it  into  a 
crucible, — put  the  curcible  into  the  tire;  after  a  short  time  had 
elapsed  Phillips  put  something  wrapped  in  a  paper  into  the  hot 
crucible  containing  the  copper. 

The  contents  of  the  crucible  then  began  to  foam  and  boil,  contin- 
uing in  that  state  for  ten  minutes  when  it  settled  down  into  a  clear 
fiuid  which  was  poured  off  and  cooled.  It  was  good  silver  and 
weighed  half  an  ounce.  It  withstood  nitric  acid  and  other  well- 
known  tests,  so  that  there  was  no  doubt  as  to  the  quality  of  the 
product  turned  from  the  crucible.  The  only  unsatisfactory  thing 
with  Burroughs  was  the  nature  of  the  so-called  powder  in  the  paper 
which  Phillips  had  thrown  into  the  crucible  at  a  certain  stage  of  the 
process.  Phillips  contended  that  it  absorbed  the  verdigris  of  the 
copper  leaving  the  remainder  pure  silver. 

Burroughs  desired  to  see  some  of  the  powder,  and  after  satisfying 
himself  that  it  was  really  a  powder  as  claimed,  he  then  wished  Phillips 
to  perform  the  experiment  again  and  put  the  powder  in  open,  with- 
out the  covering  of  paper.  Phillips  said  it  was  not  quite  as  good  a 
plan  to  do  that  way,  but  consented  to  gratify  his  visitors'  curiosity. 
The  experiment  was  then  repeated  in  all  respects  the  same  as  before, 


332 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


except  that  the  transmuter,  Phillips,  laid  a  large  flat  piece  of  coal  over 
the  mouth  of  the  crucible  after  putting  in  the  copper.  The  result 
was  the  same; — half  an  ounce  of  pure  silver  was  poured  from  the 
crucible  as  before. 

Burroughs  then  desired  Phillips  to  furnish  him  with  materials  and 
allow  him  to  proceed,  with  the  details  of  the  experiment  and  the 
handling  of  the  crucible,  while  Phillips  should  remain  at  a  distance 
from  the  fire.  Phillips  assented  to  this  proposition.  Burroughs 
weighed  out  the  copper,  put  it  in  the  crucible  and  at  the  proper  time 
put  in  the  powder  and  when  the  contents  were  foaming  Phillips, 
standing  at  a  distance  from  the  forge,  cried  out  to  Burroughs  to  stir 
the  contents  of  the  crucible.  The  only  thing  at  hand  with  which  the 
crucible's  contents  could  be  stirred  was  an  iron  rod  about  the  size  of 
the  old-fashioned  nail  rod,  such  as  blacksmiths  of  those  days  ham- 
mered out  their  own  nails  for  horse  and  cattle  shoes.  Burroughs 
seized  the  rod  and  stirred  the  contents  of  the  crucible,  although  he 
did  not  remember  that  Phillips  stirred  the  crucible  when  attending  it 
himself.  On  pouring  out  the  contents  of  the  crucible  they  weighed 
up  a  half  ounce  of  pure  silver  as  on  the  two  previous  occasions. 

Burroughs  begged  for  still  further  indulgence  in  the  investigation 
and  this  time  he  stipulated  that  Phillips  should  not  be  even  a  specta- 
tor; that  he  should  leave  the  room  and  remain  out  while  Burroughs 
and  his  friend  Lysander  selected  the  materials  for  the  crucible  and 
manipulated  it  in  the  fire;  to  this  Phillips  gave  assent.  The  two 
weighed  out  the  half  ounce  of  copper,  placed  it  in  the  crucible,  and 
when  it  was  fully  melted  added  the  mysterious  powder  and  stirred 
the  contents  with  a  short  piece  of  walking  stick,  the  nail  rod  not 
lying  handy  at  the  time.  In  stirring  the  contents  of  the  crucible, 
about  four  inches  of  the  stick  was  burned  away,  but  as  the  stick  of 
itself  was  worthless  no  thought  was  given  to  it  at  the  time.  After 
pouring  out  the  contents  of  the  personally  managed  crucible  and 
giving  it  time  to  cool,  a  half  ounce  of  pure  silver  was  weighed  up  as 
in  each  of  the  former  tests. 

Satisfaction  could  not  be  more  complete,  and  late  that  night  Bur- 
roughs and  his  friend  Lysander  returned  to  Pelham  filled  with  visions 
of  fabulous  wealth  which  was  within  easy  reach,  and  they  began  per- 
fecting plans  to  get  this  wealth  in  hand. 

After  two  years  in  Dartmouth  college,  which  he  was  forced  to  leave 
before  the  completion  of  the  course,  by  fault  of  his  own   rather  than 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  ^^^ 

that  of  others  ;  he  left  his  father's  house  at  Hanover,  N.  H.  and  went 
to  Newburyport  and  shipped  on  a  packet  having  letters  of  marque 
for  Nantes,  France,  shipping  in  the  capacity  of  physician  for  the 
ship.  On  the  passage  out  the  packet  halted  at  Sable  Island,  a  lonely 
uninhabited  island  on  which  there  was  only  a  hut  for  the  protection 
of  such  as  might  be  shipwrecked  on  the  surrounding  reefs,  and  some 
wild  hogs  that  might  be  used  as  food  by  such  unfortunates,  if  by  any 
possibility  they  could  be  killed. 

The  proposition  which  Burroughs  and  his  friend  Lysander  con- 
sidered was  to  charter  a  vessel,  load  her  with  copper,  coal  and  pro- 
visions, besides  the  necessary  outfit  for  transmuting  copper  into 
silver  and  then  take  up  their  residence  on  Sable  Island  so  that  they 
might  pursue  the  wealth  getting  business  without  interruption,  expect- 
ing, doubtless  to  bring  back  a  ship  load  of  silver  instead  of   copper. 

The  consideration  of  this  money  making  scheme  was  an  all-absorb- 
ing one  with  Burroughs  and  Lysander,  when  the  sudden  exposure  of 
Burroughs  came  by  the  visit  of  his  friend  Huntingdon,  and  the  unfor- 
tunate collision  with  Mr.  Chapin  and  Mr.  Forward  at  Belchertown, 
made  it  imperative  for  Burroughs  to  leave  Pelhani.  This  broke  off  the 
consideration  of  their  plans  for  a  time,  but  Burroughs  who  had  become 
an  ardent  believer  in  free  silver,  was  desirous  of  completing  the  plans 
already  begun,  and  after  visiting  his  friend  Huntingdon  at  Coventry, 
several  weeks  subsequent  to  his  escape  from  the  clutches  of  the 
enraged  Pelham  people  at  Rutland,  he  determined  to  return  to  Pel- 
ham  to  renew  the  consideration  of  the  plans  so  suddenly  broken  off. 
He  made  the  journey  to  Massachusetts  and  to  Pelham,  arriving  at 
the  house  of  his  friend  Lysander  at  one  o'clock  in  the  night. 

He  was  received  with  hearty  expressions  of  satisfaction  by  Lysan- 
der and  his  family,  and  Burroughs  was  as  effusive  in  his  greetings  as 
they.  There  was  a  mutual  recapitulation  of  the  exciting  occurrences 
connected  with  his  departure  from  Pelham  and  the  scenes  at  Rutland 
of  which  Lysander  had  of  course  received  exparte  statements  from  his 
neighbors  who  were  witnesses  of  the  doings  at  Rutland.  They 
laughed  over  the  ludicrous  antics  of  the  leading  citizens  when  they 
learned  that  Mr.  Davis,  the  supplyer  had  disappeared,  and  over  the 
anathemas  and  execrations  that  his  pursuers  heaped  upon  the  Rut- 
landers  for  not  joining  heartily  with  them  in  securing  the  imposter 
and  bringing  him  to  punishment. 
23 


334 


HISTORY    OK    PELHAM.    MASS. 


After  all  the  incidents  and  happenings  of  the  chase  after  Bur- 
roughs had  been  rehearsed  and  nothing  of  information  concerning 
the  great  business  of  securing  wealth  by  changing  copper  to  silver 
had  been  voluntered  by  Lysander,  Burroughs  ventured  to  ask  how  he 
was  progressing  in  the  business,  and  with  much  show  of  distress  and 
disappointment  was  informed  by  Lysander  that  the  scheme  for  get- 
ting rich  was  exploded.  "  Burroughs,  we  have  all  been  deceived  by 
Phillips,  that  king  of  villians,"  said  Lysander,  and  then  he  went  on  to 
explain  how  the  deception  was  practised  and  made  so  plain  as  to  fully 
convince  them  of  its  being  a  real  transmutation  of  copper  to  silver. 

When  the  half  ounce  of  copper  was  placed  in  the  crucible  at  the 
first  test,  Phillips  put  in  a  half  ounce  of  silver  wrapped  in  the  paper 
with  the  powder  which  consumed  the  copper  and  left  the  silver.  The 
second  test  was  made  to  appear  real  by  resorting  to  the  following 
manipulations  which  neither  Burroughs  nor  Lysander  detected  at  the 
time. 

As  Burroughs  desired  to  see  the  powder  the  silver  could  not  be 
enclosed  in  the  paper  containing  it,  so  Phillips  unobserved  laid  the 
silver  on  the  forge  and  covered  it  with  a  flat  piece  of  charcoal  broad 
enough  to  cover  the  top  of  the  crucible,  and  with  the  tongs  raised  the 
silver  with  the  charcoal  and  laid  the  coal  across  the  crucible,  the 
silver  falling  from  the  under  side  of  the  charcoal  into  the  crucible 
when  the  tongs  were  removed.  The  third  test  was  the  one  which 
Burroughs  managed  with  Phillips  standing  at  a  distance  from  the 
forge  and  was  directed  to  stir  the  contents  of  the  crucible,  which  he 
did  with  a  horse  nail  rod  that  lay  handy  on  the  forge.  On  the  end 
of  this  rod  the  silver  was  fixed  and  blackened  to  look  exactly  like  the 
iron  rod  itself,  —when  used  to  stir  the  contents  of  the  crucible  the 
silver  melted  off. 

The  last  test  was  performed  by  Burroughs  and  Lysander  alone, 
they  weighed  out  the  copper,  put  in  the  mysterious  powder  at  the 
right  time  and  stirred  the  mass  in  the  crucible  with  a  short  piece  of 
walking  sticking, — the  only  thing  in  reach  at  the  time, — no  thought 
being  given  to  the  disappearance  of  the  iron  rod  which  had  been 
laid  aside  unnoticed  and  the  innocent  piece  of  walking  stick  left 
within  easy  reach  to  be  sought  to  stir  the  contents  of  the  crucible  at 
the  right  stage  of  the  operation.  The  handy  portion  of  walking  stick 
was  burned  off  for  about  five  inches  at  the  end  and  there  was  hidden 
the  necessary  half  ounce  of  silver  to  complete  the  test  and  show  up 
when  cool  as  pure  silver. 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  335 

This  statement  of  fact  by  Lysander  caused  a  collapse  in  the  hopes 
of  great  wealth  which  had  filled  the  mind  of  Burroughs  and  had 
caused  him  to  journey  from  Coventry  to  Pelham,  when  he  was  aware 
that  neither  Dr.  Hinds  nor  Dea.  McMullen  cared  to  see  him  except 
to  put  him  under  arrest  as  the  worst  imposter  they  had  ever  known. 
Burroughs  had  lost  in  his  expectations  but  his  pocket  had  not  suf- 
fered from  the  skillful  manipulations  of  the  one-armed  bunco  man, 
Phillips  at  New  Salem,  but  Lysander  and  others  had  been  fleeced  in 
the  sum  of  $2000,  for  Lysander  was  not  the  only  one  that  Phillips 
was  letting  into  the  secret  for  a  money  consideration.  It  cost 
Lysander  $100  in  money  and  a  fine  horse  to  learn  that  he  had  been 
duped.  Phillips,  having  secured  all  that  he  thought  it  possible  with 
safety  to  seek,  disappeared  and  left  his  dupes  in  the  lurch,  including 
Glazier  Wheeler,  to  whom  he  had  promised  half  the  swag  he  should 
collect  from  those  anxious  to  learn  the  business  of  transmutation  of 
metals. 

According  to  the  statement  of  Burroughs,  Lysander  then  decided 
to  try  to  better  his  financial  condition  by  securing  a  quantity  of 
Glazier  Wheeler's  counterfeit  silver  dollars,  which  the  latter  turned 
out  at  the  rate  of  three  spurious  for  one  standard  dollar,  and  in  the 
face  of  the  pleadings  of  his  wife  and  the  arguments  of  Burroughs 
against  it  signified  his  intention  to  put  them  in  circulation.  He  pro- 
posed to  go  to  Springfield  after  certain  drugs  which  Wheeler  was  in 
need  of  to  fill  an  order  he  had  placed  in  Wheeler's  hands  for  more 
spurious  money,  and  to  take  some  of  the  bad  money  along  to  make 
the  purchases.  Arguments  and  pleadings  were  in  vain,  and  because 
of  his  high  regard  for  Lysander  and  his  family  Burroughs  oft'ered  to 
take  twenty  counterfeit  dollars  and  ride  to  Springfield  to  purchase 
the  drugs  which  Lysander  said  must  be  obtained  and  for  which  he 
had  determined  to  go  in  person. 

Burroughs  arrived  in  Springfield  at  11  a.  m.  called  at  the  drug 
store,  ordered  the  drugs,  and  turned  over  some  of  the  twenty  bogus 
dollars  in  payment,  and  was  arrested  in  a  printing  office  opposite  the 
drug  store  a  few  mmutes  later. 

Burroughs  was  thrown  into  jail  to  await  trial,  and  it  was  while  in 
prison  that  he  decided  upon  the  course  which  he  would  pursue  at  the 
trial.  Instead  of  implicating  Lysander  in  the  business  of  passing 
bad  money  he  concluded  to  keep  his  mouth  closed  and  take  the 
punishment  dealt  out  by  the  courts  because  of  the  great  suffering  the 


2:^6  HISTORY    OK    PELHAM,    MASS. 

implication  of  his  friend  Lysander  would  cause  his  innocent  wife 
and  family.  Ikirroughs  was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  three  years 
imprisonment  in  Northampton  jail. 

Stephen  Burroughs  was  the  only  son  of  Rev.  Eden  Burroughs  of 
Hanover,  N.  H.  He  had  spent  one  year  in  preparation  for  Dart- 
mouth college,  was  in  that  institution  two  years;  went  on  a  voyage  to 
Nantes,  France,  as  ship  physician  at  seventeen;  taught  school  at 
Haverhill  and  Oxford,  N.  H..  after  his  return  from  France  ;  was 
obliged  to  leave  home  on  account  of  being  concerned  in  the  robbery 
of  a  bee-house  near  Hanover,  and  for  his  attentions  to  a  married 
woman  at  Oxford.  When  nineteen  years  old  he  follows  the  Connecti- 
cut river  valley  to  Massachusetts  ;  preaches  his  first  sermon  at 
Ludlow,  and  rides  up  the  long  Pelham  slopes  and  bargains  with 
good  Deacon  Ebenezer  Gray  to  preach  for  four  Sundays  at  five 
dollars  a  Sunday  including  board  and  horse  keeping.  Having  fol- 
lowed the  career  of  this  talented  young  imposter  so  far  as  it  has 
connection  with  the  people  of  Pelham,  as  preacher  or  as  passer  of 
counterfeit  money,  we  now  take  leave  of  him,  with  a  good  start  in  a 
career  which  became  notorious,  and  whose  operations  covered  a  goodly 
portion  of  New  England.  The  main  facts  of  this  Burroughs  episode 
are  condensed  from  the  "  Life  of  Burroughs,"  written  by  himself  and 
published  by  M.  N.  Spear  of  Amherst. 

Thk  Hay  Mow  Serm<.)n. 

The  famous  Hay  Mow  Sermon  of  Stephen  l^urroughs  has  been  a 
subject  of  great  interest  for  more  than  a  century.  Jt  has  been 
asserted  many  times  that  it  was  preached  from  the  hay  mow  in 
Rutland  by  Burroughs,  to  the  people  of  Pelham  who  had  pursued 
him  from  the  tavern,  and  when  hard  pressed  he  had  entered  a  barn 
and  mounted  the  hay  mow  for  safety.  From  the  hay  mow  as  a 
pulpit  Burroughs  doubtless  made  some  pointed  remarks  in  response 
to  the  incriminating  charges  that  came  up  to  him  from  the  mixed 
audience  on  the  barn  floor  of  pursuing  Pelham  men,  and  the  curious 
Rutlanders  who  were  interested  to  see  the  outcome  of  the  strange 
spectacle  of  a  foot  race  between  the  staid  churchmen  from  Pelham 
and  their  late  "  Supplyer."  who  had  proven  to  be  a  wolf  in  sheep's 
clothing.  But  it  is  quite  evident  that  the  episode  at  the  Rutland 
barn  was   onlv   used    to  furnish    on  attractive    name  for  a    (locumenl 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  337 

issued  several  years  later  in  pamphlet  form,  and  probably  never 
preached  at  all. 

The  opening  paragraphs  refer  to  the  several  ministers  that  had 
been  settled  in  Pelham  before  Burroughs  was  engaged  as  "  Supplyer  " 
viz.:  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie,  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Merrill.  Rutland  is  mentioned  truthfully  as  a  land  of  hills 
and  valleys — and  the  collision  between  Burroughs  and  Dr.  Hinds,  in 
which  the  latter  received  a  blow  on  the  head  from  a  stone  in  the 
hands  of  the  former  is  a  matter  of  history. 

Then  the  trouble  between  the  Lincolnites  and  the  Pelhamites  is 
taken  up.  This  refers  of  course  to  the  Shays  rebellion  of  1786-7  : 
proving  conclusively  that  the  Hay  Mow  Sermon  was  not  preached 
extempore  from  the  Rutland  hay  mow,  but  written  after  the  rebellion 
had  been  crushed  out,  or  not  until  three  or  four  years  after  Burroughs 
climbed  the  hay  mow.  This  feat  having  been  accomplished  in  the 
autumn  of  17S4  after  ''supplying  the  vacant  pulpit  at  Pelham  for 
perhaps  twenty  Sundays  and  skipping  the  town  with  one  Sunday 
more  paid  for  than  he  had  preached. 

That  part  of  the  so-called  sermon  which  touches  upon  St.  Patrick 
and  the  race  question  was  one  upon  which  the  people  were  very 
sensitive,  as  Burroughs  well  knew,  and  the  charge  that  they  could 
not  pronounce  the  word  faith,  at  all, — the  nearest  approach  being 
the  shorter  and  more  quickly  spoken  word  "  fath  "  accompanied  by 
the  distinctive  Irish  brogue  tended  to  make  the  Scotch  people  very 
angry,  for  they  much  disliked  the  title  of  Scotch-Irish  often  applied 
to  them,  and  coming  from  Burroughs,  the  irreligious  and  wicked 
youth  who  had  by  sanctimonious  pretentions  been  able  to  deceive 
them  and  gain  admission  to  the  pulpit  for  several  months,  made  it 
all  the  more  unbearable. 

The  above  comments  and  explanations  will  help  to  a  better  under- 
standing of  the  circumstances  under  which  the  much  too  highly 
extolled  sermon  was  evolved  from  the  brain  of  the  notorious  Bur- 
roughs, and  will  take  away  much  of  the  sprightly  novelty  and  spice 
commonly  supposed  to  be  found  in  the  extempore  effort  of  Burroughs 
from  the  Rutland  hay  mow. 

The  Sermon. 

"  In  those  days  the  Pelhamites  being  gathered  together,  from  the  East  and 
from  the  West,  from  the  North  and  from  the  South  :  Stephen  the  Burrowite 


33o  HISTORY    OV    PELHAM,    MASS. 

being  the  Prophet  of  Pelham,  ascended  the  Aay  mow,  and  lifted  up  his 
voice,  saying,  "hear  ye  the  voice  of  the  Lord  which  crieth  against  the  Pel- 
hamites, — for  tlie  anger  of  the  Lord  speaketh  with  furious  indignation 
against  you  for  the  follies  which  you  committed  against  the  Lord  and 
against  his  annointed.  For  verily,  saith  the  Lord,  I  have  given  you  my 
prophets,  rising  up  early,  and  sending  them  :  But  the  first*  you  soon 
rejected  : — The  secondf  on  account  of  your  cruelty,  I  took  to  myself: — The 
thirdt  you  drove  away  with  great  wrath,  and  pursued  with  great  rage, 
malignity,  and  uproar. —  "  Then,"  said  the  Lord  "  I  will  give  them  a  Minis- 
ter like  unto  themselves,  full  of  all  deceit,  hypocricy,  and  duplicity.  But 
whom,  among  all  the  sons  of  men  shall  I  send.'*  Then  came  there  forth  a 
lying  Spirit,  and  stood  before  the  Lord,  saying  "  I  will  go  forth,  and  be  a 
spirit  in  the  mouth  of  Stephen  the  Burrowite."  And  the  Lord  said  "go." 
Then  rose  up  Stephen  the  Burrowite,  of  the  tribe  of  the  Puritans,  and 
family  of  Ishmael,  and  went  forth  to  Pelham,  sorely  oppressing  the  Pel- 
hatnites,  taking  from  them  ten  shekels  of  silver,  a  mighty  fine  horse,  and 
changes  of  raiment,  and  ran  off  to  Rutland. 

Then  the  Pelhainites  were  moved  with  rage,  like  the  moving  of  tlie  trees 
of  the  forest  by  a  mighty  tempest,  and  gathered  themselves  together,  and 
pursued  their  Prophet  down  to  Rutland. 

And  now,  I  your  prophet  and  minister,  being  ascended  on  the  hay  mow, 
declare  unto  you,  that  I  see  an  angel  flying  through  heaven,  crying  "Wo! 
Wo!  Wo!  to  the  Pelhamites.  The  first  wo  is  past,  but  behold  two  other 
woes  shall  come,  which  will  sweep  you  away  with  a  mighty  besom  of 
destruction."" 

Then  arose  up  Nehemiah  the  son  of  Nehemiah,  Daniel  the  son  of  John, 
and  John  the  son  of  John,  who  was  a  trader  in  potash  and  were  about  to  lay 
violent  hands  on  the  Prophet. 

Then  the  Prophet  lift  up  his  rod,  which  he  held  in  his  hand,  and  smote 
John§,  the  trader  in  potash  across  the  right  arm,  and  broke  it  asunder,  but 
the  rod  breaking  and  falling  out  of  his  hand,  he  caught  up  a  great  mill  stone, 
and  cast  it  on  the  head  of  Nehemiah ||  and  sunk  him  to  the  ground. 

This  Rutland  being  a  land  of  hills  and  valleys,  where  groweth  the  syca- 
more tree,  the  fir  tree,  and  the  shittim  wood,  by  the  wayside,  as  thou  goest 
unto  Dan,  which  in  the  Hebrew  is  called  Abandone,  but  iu'^yriac  Worces- 
ter ;  it  being  the  place  of  a  Skull  :  And  not  that  Dan  which  is  called  by 
Tom  Paine  and  Philistines  Laith.  The  I^rophet  travelling  through  this  land 
by  the  way  of  Ur  of  the  Chaldeans,  souglit  him  five  smooth  stones  out  of 
the  brook,  and  put  them  into  his  wallet;  lest,  haply,  Syhon  King  of 
Hespbon,  and  Ogg  King  of  Bashan,  should  come  out  against  him.  But  it 
went  out  all  round  about  the  land  of  Edom  saying,  "  The  Burrowite  is  not, 
but  is  fled  and  gone  over  the  brook  Cedron.'' 

Therefore  they  blew  a  trumpet,  saying,  "  Every  man  to  his  tent  O  Fel- 
hamite  !"  So  they  all  went  up  from  following  after  the  Prophet;  but  when 
*Mr.  Abercronibie.        +Mr.  Graham.        J.VIr.  Merrill.        §Konkey.        IIDr.  Hinds. 


STEPHEN    BURROUGHS.  339 

they  came  to  the  pass  of  Jourdati  behold  a  strong  army  had  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  ford  of  the  river !  at  which  the  Pelhamites  were  sore  dis- 
mayed, and  sought  by  guile  to  deceive  the  army  of  the  Lincoliiites;  there- 
fore, they  say  unto  the  Liiicohiites.  "  We  be  strangers  from  a  far  country, 
with  old  shoes,  and  clouted  on  our  feet."  Then  said  the  Lincolnites  unto 
the  men  of  Pelham,  "Say  Faith!"  Then  the  /"(^//iawzViJj- said  "fath,"  for 
they  could  not  ?,?iy  faith.  Then  the  Lincolnites  knew  them  to  be  Pelham- 
ites and  fell  upon  them  and  slew  them  so  that  not  one  was  left  to  lean 
against  the  wall. 

When  it  was  told  in  Pelham,  saying,  "  Our  old  men  are  slain,  and  our 
young  ones  are  carried  away  into  captivity,  and  our  holy  places  are  polluted 
with  the  abomination  which  maketh  desolate,  there  was  great  lamentation, 
weeping  and  wailing;  every  family  mourned  apart  and  their  wives  apart — 
and  their  mourning  was  like  the  mourning  of  Hadradimmon  in  the  valley 
of  Megidon  ;"  and  they  said  "  alas  !  for  the  glory  is  departed  from  Pelliam ; 
the  second  wo  which  the  Prophet  foretold  is  surely  come  to  us;  and  when 
the  third  wo  shall  come  who  shall  be  able  to  stand. — The  beauty  of  Pelham 
is  slain  upon  the  high  places  !  is  slain !  is  slain  upon  East  Hill.  The  Grays, 
the  McMullens,  the  Hindses  and  the  Konkeys  are  fallen  upon  the  dark 
mountains  of  the  shadow  of  deal Ji  !  Tell  it  not  in  Greemvicli,  publish  it  not 
in  Leverett,  lest  the  daughters  of  the  uncircumcised  rejoice;  alas,  for  our 
wives  and  our  little  ones  !  So  the  hearts  of  the  Pelhamites  were  troubled, 
and  they  drew  around  the  alter  of  St.  Patrick,  and  bowed  down  before  the 
alter  saying,  "  O  great  Spirit !  how  have  we  offended  that  thou  hast  left 
us  to  be  destroyed  by  our  enemies !  Shall  we  go  up  again  to  fight 
against  the  Lincolnites,  and  shall  we  prosper  ?"  But  they  received  no 
answer,  by  Urim  nor  Thummim,  by  voices  nor  dreams;  and  the  Pelhamites 
were  greatly  dismayed.  Then  said  Ahab,  the  Tishbite,  "  Hear  O  Pelhai/t- 
itesl  There  liveth  in  the  wilderness  of  Sin,  as  thou  goest  unto  the  land  of 
Shinar,  a  cunning  woman,  whose  name  is  Goody  McFall,  who  has  a  famil- 
liar,  and  dwelleth  alone,  even  with  her  cat.  To  this  woman  let  the  fathers 
and  leaders  of  the  tribe  of  Pelham  repair  and  peradventure  she  may  tell  us 
what  we  ought  to  do." 

Then  the  chief  men  of  Pelham,  captains  of  tens,  captains  of  twelves  and 
captains  of  twenties,  arose  up  and  disguised  themselves  in  the  habits  of 
honest  men,  and  went  forth  to  Goody  iMcFall,  saying.  '"  Bring  us  up  a 
Spirit," — and  she  said  "  Whom  shall  I  bring  up  ?"  And  they  say  unto  her 
"  Bring  up  Father  Abercrombie."  Then  Goody  McFall  laid  hold  of  her 
instrument  of  Enchantment  and  stamped  on  the  ground,  and  then  cried  out, 
alas !  for  you  have  deceived  me,  for  you  are  Pelhamites  and  not  honest 
men.  And  they  said  unto  her  '•  fear  not."  Then  the  ground  was  troubled 
and  began  to  move — and  they  said  unto  her,  -'Whom  sawest  thou?"  And 
she  said  "  Abercrombie."  Then  came  there  forth  old  Father  Abercrombie ; 
and  with  a  countenance  which  made  the  Pelhamites  quake  with  fear,  said, 
"Why  hast  thou  troubled  me,  even  in  my  grave?"  Then  answered  the 
Pelhamites,  and  said,  "  Because  we  are  sore  troubled. — We  have  fallen  by 


34°  HIS'l'ORY    OK    PELHAM,    MASS. 

the  hands  of  the  Lincolnites,  and  when  we  enquired  at  the  altar  of  our  great 
Prophet,  we  were  not  answered  by  Urim  nor  Thummim,  by  voices  nor 
dreams."  Then  said  Abercrombie, — "  You  shall  go  out  to-morrow  against 
the  Lincolnites,  and  shall  fall  by  their  hands,  and  be  utterly  destroyed, — 
your  wives  and  little  ones  shall  be  led  away  into  captivity,  for  your  measure 
of  iniquity  is  full."  Then  the  men  of  Pelhain  fell  all  along  on  the  ground, 
and  their  hearts  sunk  within  them.— Then  fear  and  sore  dismay  spread 
through  all  the  town  oi  Pelhani,  and  the  Pelhatnites^ed  into  the  wilderness, 
and  hid  themselves  in  caves  and  holes  of  the  earth. 

And  lo  !  it  was  told  in  the  army  of  the  Lincolnites,  saying, — The  Pelham- 
ites  have  fled  !"  Then  arose  up  the  Lincolnites  and  pursued  after  the  men 
of  Pelhatfi,  sorely  discomfiting  them,  and  led  many  away  captive  to  the  city 
of  Dan.  Then  Benjamin  the  Lhicolnite  blew  a  trumpet,  and  all  the  men 
left  pursuing  after  the  Pelha}?iites. 

And  the  Pelhamites  who  were  carried  away  captive  to  the  city  of  Daii, 
besought  Jammy  the  Bostonian,  saying,  "  We  be  evil  men,  dealing  in  lies 
and  wickedness;  we  have  sought  to  destroy  the  goodness  of  the  land  !  we 
digged  a  pit  and  fell  therein ;  we  have  trusted  to  St.  Patrick  to  deliver  us, 
but  he  has  utterly  forsaken  us ; — therefore  O  Jammy,  in  thy  wrath  remember 
mercy ;  and  we  will  leave  assembling  ourselves  together  to  talk  politics,  and 
follow  our  occupation  of  raising  potatoes." — Then  Jammy  the  Bostonian 
had  compassion  on  the  Pelhamites. 

They  then  sung  the  following  hymn,  after  which,  the  Prophet  passed  out 
of  their  hands  and  fled  from  their  sight. 

The  Hymn. 

Says  Irish  Teague  I  do  not  know. 

From  whence  came  our  Nation  ; 
"  I  to  St.  Patrick's  shrine  will  go, 

And  there  get  information. 
Great  genius  of  our  Nation,  tell 

By  whom  we  are  befriended. 
For  the  Irish  are  so  much  like  hell, 

I  fear  they  from  thence  descended. 
At  which  the  grumbling  spirit  spoke. 

Poor  Teague,  I  will  befriend  thee  ; 
Since  now  my  aid  you  do  invoke, 

My  help  PU  freely  lend  thee. 
Once  on  the  coast  of  Gadareen, 

As  flocks  and  herds  were  feeding, 
A  great  herd  of  two  hundred  swine. 

Which  shepherds  these  were  leading. 
Were  by  a  Legion  then  possessed— 

*  *  of  minds  were  bent  on  slaughter." 

Any  further  reprint  of  the  hymn  is  impossible  as  the  ancient  copy 
is  so  worn  and  torn  that  the  above  is  all  there  is  left. 


Pelham  in  the  Wars. 


Frcficli   War. — Rero/iifionary   War. —  War  of  1812. — Mexican    Wat 
—  The  Great  Rebel  lion. 


French  and  Indian  Wars. 

Information  concerning  the  part  Pelham  men  had  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars  is  not  easily  obtainable.  The  ancient  muster  rolls 
had  headings  printed  in  a  business  like  manner,  giving  a  heading  for 
all  information  for  the  identification  of  every  soldier,  term  of  service, 
miles  marched,  amount  of  pay,  etc.,  and  yet  the  one  heading,  "  Town 
From,"  that  would  locate  each  man  definitely  is  left  blank  on  most 
of  the  rolls.  These  rolls  are  pasted  into  large  blank  volumes,  ten  or 
more  in  number,  and  not  yet  fully  indexed,  so  that  one  must  examine 
each  roll  for  the  names  of  men  that  have  a  familiar  sound  or  that 
was  a  common  family  name  in  the  town  one  is  specially  interested  in. 
If  one  finds  a  muster  roll  of  Hampshire  county  men  it  is  scrutinized 
closely  for  names  of  men  from  the  town  whose  soldier  record  is 
being  looked  up.  Absolute  accuracy  is  hardly  attainable  under  the 
circumstances. 

The  first  man  whose  name  appears  as  serving  in  the  French  and 
Indian  wars  is  given  on  the  authority  of  the  town  records,  as  follows  : 
At  a  meeting,  March  19,  1746-7,  "Voted  that  James  Fergerson  is 
freed  from  Paying  Rats  y'  1746  for  his  being  in  y"  War."  At  the 
same  meeting  it  was  "voted  that  Isaac  Hunter  and  John  Starling  is 
freed  from  Paying  Rats  last  year  and  this  year."  Robert  Fergerson 
was  also  "freed  from  paying  Rats  last  year  and  this  year."  The 
record  does  not  state  that  the  last  three  men  were  freed  from  pay- 
ing taxes  in  consideration  of  their  being  in  the  war,  but  it  may 
not  be  unfair  to  assume  that  the  four  men  were  in  his  Majesty's  ser- 
vice fighting  the  French  and  Indians. 

A  muster  roll  of  Capt.  Isaac  \^'yman"s  company  in  1755,  has  the 
name  of  John  Gray  as  in  service  of  that  company, — no  town  being 
given  but  it  is  a  Pelham  name  and  it  is  assumed  that  he  was  prob- 
ably from  that  town. 

On  the    15th  of   Sept.    1755,   the    regiment    of   militia    under   Col. 


342  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Abraham  Williams  was  mustered  and  thirty-nine  men  enlisted  there- 
from by  order  of  Lieut.-Gov.  Phipps  and  among  these  names  was 
that  of  ]knoni  Shirtlieff,  afterwards  innkeeper,  constable,  and  a  man 
of  position  in  I'elham. 

When  such  an  order  was  sent  out  to  the  commander  of  any  regi- 
ment the  quota  was  filled  by  enlistment  from  the  enrolled  men  in  the 
regiment,  or  if  men  enough  did  not  volunteer,  men  were  "  impressed  *' 
to  make  up  the  quota. 

A  demand  was  made  upon  the  regiment  of  Lt.-(_"ol.  Thomas  Wil- 
liams, May  4,  1756,  and  not  enough  enlisting,  Matthew  Gray  was 
impressed,  and  the  squad  was  mustered  in  at  Hatfield.  Matthew 
Gray  was  a  Pelham  man. 

Levi  Gray's  name  appears  in  the  list  of  men  from  C"ol.  Joseph 
Dwight's  regiment  who  enlisted  for  service  at  Crown  Point,  May  4, 
1756.  Levi  Gray  lived  on  the  farm  known  as  the  Eseck  Cook  farm. 
John  Dunlap  was  in  Capt.  Samuel  Moody's  company,  Sept.  £o, 
1755,  and  Robert  Dunlap  in  the  company  of  Capt.  David  Dunning. 
Robert  Gilmore  enlisted  for  service  at  Crown  Point,  Oct.  7,  1755, 
and  W^illiam  Oliver  enlisted  from  Col.  Jacob  Wendall's  regiment  for 
service  at  the  same  place,  Oct.  2,  J  755,  as  did  William  Patterson. 
It  is  not  absolutely  certain  that  the  last  two  names  were  of  Pelham 
men  but  there  were  men  of  these  names  in  the  town  and  in  the 
absence  of  statement  on  the  rolls  as  to  the  towns  the  men  came  from 
it  is  quite  possible  they  were  from  Pelham. 

Joshua  Conkey  and  James  Turner  were  doubtless  soldiers  in  the 
French  and  Indian  wars  sometime  previous  to  1761,  and  it  is 
believed  that  during  their  service  they  traversed  some  part  of  Wash- 
ington county,  New  York,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  land  in  that 
section  pleased  them  and  caused  the  men  to  go  out  there  in  the 
spring  of  1761  and  secure  a  tract  of  land  on  the  flats  where  the  vil- 
lage of  Salem,  N.  Y.,  now  stands. 

"  A  Muster  Roll  of  the  Company  under  Command  of  Opt  Robert 
Lotheridge  in  the  Regiment  of  which  Isreal  Hillings  is  Colonel,  which 
marched  by  the  Captain  (lenerals  orders  for  the  relief  of  the  Garri- 
son and  Troops  at  Fort  William  Henry  at  the  time  it  was  invested  in 
the  year  1757  in  which  is  given  the  names  of  men.  their  Quality,  the 
number  of  miles  Marched,  the  whole  term  of  service  in  Days,  the 
number  of  Hor.ses,  the  amount  of  each  mans  wages,  and  the  number 
of  meals  that  were  eat  ui)on  the  credit  of  the  Province,  annexed  to 
the  names  of  those  who  eat  them." 


PELHAiM     IN    THE    WARS. 


343 


Names. 

Quality. 

No.  of 
Horses. 

Wages. 

Meals  to  be 
Deducted. 

Robert  Lotheridi^e, 

Capt. 

Horse 

_^3_,2— 4 

_ 

John  Johnson, 

Lieut. 

Horse 

2—14 5 

_ 

William  Crosett, 

Ensign 

Horse 

2 — 3 8 

I 

James  Conkey, 

Cler. 

2—00 — 7 

1 

Andrew  Makleni, 

Serg't 



2—00 7 

1 

Hugh  Johnson, 

do 



2 1 3 

Isaac  Gray, 

do 



2—00 7 

1 

John  Hamilton, 

Corp'l 



2—00 7 



Oliver  .Selfridge. 

do 



I  — 19 5 

I 

William  Selfridge, 

Cert. 

— 

1—19 — 5 

— 

Patrick  McMallan, 





I  — 18 2 

I 

George  Patterson, 



Horse 

I— 18— 10 

I 

James  Hood, 



Horse 

I  — 18— ID 



Isaac  Hunter. 





I— 18 2 



Robert  McCulloch, 





I 18 2 



John  Peebels, 



Horse 

1-18— 10 



Robert  Hamilton,  Jun., 



I  — iS 2 

Hugh  Moors, 

_ 



1-18  -2 

I 

Robert  Peebels,  Jun.. 



Horse 

[—18—10 



Archibald  Crosett, 

— 

— 

I  — 18 2 

Jonathan  Gray, 





I  — 18 2 

Robert  Maklam, 

— 

— 

1-18 — 2 

James  Hamilton, 

— 

Horse 

I— 18 -10 

James  Turner, 

— 

— 

I —  1 8 2 

Thomas  Cochran. 

Horse 

I  — 18 — 10 

James  Cowan, 





I 18 2 



Arthur  Crozier, 

— 

— 

1^18 2 

Thomas  Johnson, 



Horse 

I  — 18— ID 

John  Lynsey, 





I  — r8 2 

John  Crozier,  Jun., 





I  — 18 2 

Wm.  Gilmore. 

— 

— 

i_,8 2 

— 

James  Harkness, 

— 

Horse 

I  — 18— ID 

James  Hamilton, 

— 

_ 

i_i8 2 

Daniel  Gray, 



Horse 

I  — 18— 10 

Alexander  Conkey,  Jun., 

— 

I  — 18 2 

— 

John  Thompson, 





i_i8 2 

.Samuel  Stinson, 

— 

— 

I -18 2 

— 

James  Thompson, 



Horse 

I  — 18  — ID 

John  McCartney, 





I  — 18 2 

James  Halbert. 



I-18— 2 

James  Barry, 

— 

Horse 

I  — 18  — ID 

.  ohn  Blaire, 



I-18 2 



ohn  Gray,  Jun., 

— 

I— 18— 2 

John  McNiell, 

— 

Horse 

I  — 18— 10 

Wm.  Gray,  Jun.. 

— 

— 

I- 18 2 

William 

— 

I-.8— 2 

Number  of  miles,  200.     Time  of  service  in  days,  14I. 

About  one  quarter  of  the  paper  on  which  the  above  muster  roll 
was  written,  is  missing,  so  that  as  many  as  sixty  officers  and  men 
from  Pelham  marched  to  the  reUef  of  Fort  William  Henry  in  1757, 
though  but  46  are  now  on  the  muster  roll. 


344  HisroRY  OF   pklha.m,    mass. 

A  billetting  roll  of  Capt.  Salah  Barnard's  company  in  Colonel  Wil- 
liam Williams'  regiment  has  the  names  of  the  following  men  ;  year 
not  given  : 

David  Johnson,  Isaac  Davis, 

Robert  King,  Robert  Gilmore, 

James  Peebles.  Eliot  Gray, 

James  Powers.  Adam  Gray, 

Isaac  Stevenson,  John  Peeble, 

Seth  Rowhmd.  Robert  Peeble, 

David  Gowden,  Isaac  Wliite. 
Robert  Cochran, 

These   men   enlisted    May  2,    served   2)3    clays,   and   each  received 

^I--2S. 

"  A  Return  of  Men  in  Col  Isreal  Williams  Regiment  to  be  put 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Jeffry  Amherst  for  the  invasion  of 
Canada  in  1759,"  has  the  names  of  the  following  Pelham  men. 
Their  ages  are  given,  and  each  man  furnished  his  own  gun  and 
enlisted  April  2  : 

David  Gowden  35  Arthur  Crozier  ig 

Robert  Hamilton  28  John  Edgar  Jun  20 

John  Crozier  Sen  59  John  McCartney  40 

William  Gray  18  John  Halbert  18 

James  Hamilton  18  James  Halbert  24 

Isaac  Hunter  19 

Arthur  Crozier,  son  of  John  Crozier.  James  Hamilton  son  of 
John  Hamilton. 

A  return  of  men  enlisted  for  His  Majesty's  service  in  the  reduc- 
tion of  Canada  in  1760.      Enlisted  April  10;  mustered  April  12. 

William  (iray  19     Adam  Clark  Gray  17 

Arthur  Crozier  19     James  Sloan  18 

In  the  pay-roll  of  Capt.  Thomas  Cowdine's  company  for  service 
from  April,  1761  to  December  following  there  is  just  one  Pelham 
name:  Robert  Clarke,  Serg't. 

The  following  signed  document  indicates  that  John  Stinson,  Sten- 
son  or  Stevenson,  the  first  town  treasurer  and  father-in-law  of  Rev. 
Robert  Abercrombie  saw  service  in  the  army: 

•'(\'ol.  96,  page  98,  Archives.)  Northampton,  May  3,  1758. 

To  Col.  Ruggles  :  Please  pay  unto  Capt  Daniel  Robinson  our  respective 
Billetting, — we  being  soldiers  in  his  Company  and  you  will  oblige  subscrib- 
ers. John  Stinson." 

A  muster  roll  of  Capt.  Samuel  R.obinson's  company  dated  April 
4,   has  the  name  of  John  Stevenson,  Rutland,  son  of  John  Stevenson, 


PELHAM     IN    THE    WARS.  345 

age  1 8.  John  Stevenson  appears  on  a  list  of  men  in  South  Regiment, 
Capt.  Mirah's  company,  Col.  John  Worthington's  regiment. 

(Page  346,  Vol.  96,  Archives.)  "BillettingroU.  List  of  men  under 
Capt.  Samuel  Robinson,  Col.  Timothy  Ruggles'  regiment :  John 
Stevenson,  £\2 — 5s." 

John  Savage,  a  noted  citizen  of  Pelham  from  1747  or  earlier  until 
about  the  year  1766,  "Was  appointed  a  captain  of  a  company  of 
volunteers  in  1758  and  served  under  Gen.  Bradstreet  in  his  expedi- 
tion against  Fort  Frontenac  and  under  Gen.  Abercrombie  in  the 
assault  of  Fort  Ticonderoga." — (From  Salem  Book,  1896.) 

The  Revolutionary  War. 

The  temper  of  the  men  of  Pelham  concerning  the  oppressive  acts 
of  Great  Britain  in  the  year  just  previous  to  the  opening  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  is  shown  in  many  places  on  the  town  records,  and 
all  of  these  items  of  record  show  that  all  were  intensely  patriotic  and 
outspoken  concerning  the  oppression  of  the  Mother  Country  and 
ready  for  any  demands  that  might  be  made  upon  them  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress.  There  is  no  hint  upon  the  records  of  any  tories  or 
tory  sentiment  among  the  people  of  the  town. 

The  following  iron  clad  oath,  though  without  date,  was  evidently 
drawn  up  and  subscribed  toby  the  five  men  whose  names  appear,  just 
before  the  war  broke  out.  Just  why  these  five  and  no  more  should 
sign  the  document  is  without  explanation,  so  the  paper  is  made  part 
of  the  history  of  Pelham  in  the  Revolutionary  war  without  attempt- 
ing to  explain  more  than  is  done  by  the  iron  clad  oath  itself. 

■•  I — A^B  Truly  and  Sincerly  acknowledge  profess  certify  and  declare 
that  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  is  and  of  Right  ought  to  be  a  free 
Soverign  and  Independant  state  and  I  do  Swear  that  I  will  Bear  true  faith 
and  allegeance  to  the  said  Commonwealth — And  that  I  will  defend  the  same 
against  Traitorous  Conspiricies  and  all  hostile  attempts  whatsoever  and  that 
I  do  Renounce  and  objure  all  allegiance  subjection  and  obedience  to  the 
King  Queen  or  government  of  Great  Brittain  (as  the  case  may  be)  and  every 
other  foreign  Power  whatsover.  and  that  no  foreign  Prince  Person  Prelate 
State  or  Potentate  hath  or  ought  to  have  any  Jurisdiction  Superiority  Pre- 
eminence authority  Dispensing  or  other  Powers  in  any  Matter  Civil  Eccle- 
siastical or  Spiritual  within  this  Commonwealth  except  the  authority 
which  is  or  may  be  rested  by  their  Constituents  in  Congress  of  the  United 
States  and  I  do  further  testify  and  declare  that  no  man  or  body  of  men  hath 
or  can  have  any  right  to  absolve  or  discharge  me  from  the  Obligations  of 
this  oath  Declaration  or  Affirmation,— and  that  I   do  make  this  acknowl- 


346 


HISTORY    OF    PEI.HAM,    MASS. 


edgement,  Profession,  testimony,  Declaration,  Denial,  renunciation  and 
obligation  lieartily  and  truly  according  to  the  common  meaning  and  accepta- 
tion of  the  foregoing  words  without  equivocation  mental  evasion  or  secret 
reservation  whatsoever.         So  help  me  God.       John  Rankin, 

John  Haskins, 
Andrew  Akercromiuk, 
Alexander  Berry, 
Nath'l  Sampson." 

The  town  responded  promptly  to  the  call  for  men  in  the  spring  of 
1775  and  Captain  David  Cowden  with  a  company  composed  of  Pel- 
ham  men  was  dispatched  to  the  seat  of  war  near  Boston.  The  date 
of  service  of  these  men  began  April  19,  1775. 

To  better  present  this  service  of  the  Pelham  men  the  old  muster 
rolls  have  been  copied  and  will  be  reproduced  so  far  as  may  be 
thotight  advisable,  or  as  fully  as  can  be  in  type. 

Capt.  Cowden's  company  was  connected  with  Col.  Benjamin 
Ruggles  Woodbridge's  regiment,  and  the  date  of  the  service  is  the 
earliest  found.  Some  of  the  muster  rolls  have  no  date  and  it  is  impos- 
sible to  fix  the  year  of  service  of  some  of  the  men  for  that  reason. 

A  minute  roll  of  the  company  under  the  command  of  Capt.  David 
Cowden  in  Col.  Benj'm  Ruggles  Woodbridge's  regiment: 


Timt 

of 

Pelham  Men's  Names. 

Rank. 

Service. 

Whole  Amount  Paid. 

Weeks. 

Days. 

£       s        d    Far. 

David  Cowden. 

Capt. 

I 

4 

3—6—4-3 

James  Taylor, 

Ensign 

2 

3 

2 16—10 

El)enezer  Cray, 

Sargent 

I 

4 

18  — 10— I 

Thomas  Johnson, 

Corporal 

I 

4 

17 3-1 

Timothy  Rice, 

Private 

2 

3 

[—18 7—2 

James  l>arns. 

2 

15 8 — 2 

John  Alexander, 

I 

Isaac  IJennett, 

" 

"        '•     " 

Wm.  Fergerson, 

" 

'•        "     '• 

James  Harkness, 

" 

"        "     '• 

John  Hood, 

u 

"        "     '• 

William  Hunter, 

" 

James  Hill, 

'• 

John  Killogg, 

" 

"        "     " 

Jolin  McKee. 

" 

'•        '•     '■ 

James  Patterson, 

" 

•'        '■     " 

Joseph  Ranken, 

" 

U               ,i         li 

Samuel  Rush, 

" 

'•        "     " 

Robert  Salfrage, 

" 

r 

John  White. 

Total, 

23 7_„_, 

PELHAM    IN    THE    WARS.  347 

Time  of  service  from  April  ig,  1775. 

A  muster  roll  of  the  company   under  command  of  Capt.   David 

Cowden  in  Col.  Benj.  Ruggles  Woodbridge's  regiment  to  the  first  of 

August,  1775,  has  the  following  additional  names  of  Pelham  men: 

James  McCulIoch,  William  Gray, 

William  Hays,  William  Haskins, 

Joshua  Conkey,  drummer.  John  Hamilton, 

Silas  Conkey,  lifer,  Daniel  Hathaway, 

Ethanon  Cowing,  John  Kelley, 

John  Cowden,  John  McCartney, 

James  Fergerson,  John  White,  Jun. 
David  Gilmore, 

These  were  from  enlistments  in  May  and  July  mostly,  most  of  the 
men  having  served  more  than  three  months. 

A  return  of  Capt.  Cowden's  company  was  made  Sept.  28,  1775 
from  a  point  near  Prospect  Hill,  shows  all  the  above  names  save 
those  of  James  McCulloch,  David  Gilmore,  John  Hamilton,  Joshua 
Conkey  and  Silas  C'onkey,  but  with  the  addition  of  Adam  Patterson 
and  David  Green.  The  absence  of  Joshua  and  Silas  Conkey,  drum- 
mer and  fifer,  respectively,  may  be  because  of  their  transfer  to  some 
other  company  or  regiment  as  musicians. 

Robert  Salfrage  or  Selfridge,  enlisted  at  the  Lexington  alarm  as  it 
is  probable  all  of  Capt.  Cowden's  original  company  did.  He  was  a 
son  of  Edward  Selfridge  who  died  in  Pelham  in  1761,  and  Robert,  a 
minor  son,  was  placed  under  the  guardianship  of  John  Dick  until  he 
became  of  age.  His  service  under  his  first  enlistment  was  for  eleven 
days.  An  order  for  Bounty  Coat  was  dated  at  Prospect  Hill,  now 
Somerville,  Nov.  13,  1775  and  made  payable  to  Capt.  Cowden.  He 
enlisted  for  another  term  of  service  Aug.  17,  1777  and  is  reported  as 
discharged  Aug.  20  of  that  year.  He  marched  on  alarm  at  Benning- 
ton. Sept.  23,  1777,  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  John  Thompson's  com- 
pany, Col.  Porter's  regiment,  and  was  discharged  Oct.  17,  after  a 
service  of  one  month  and  a  day.  He  marched  on  alarm  to  rein- 
force the  Northern  army  under  Gen.  Gates. 

Robert  Selfridge  was  the  only  man  of  the  name  that  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  from  Massachusetts.  The  surname  is  spelled 
Selfridge,  Selfridg,  Selfrage,  Sulfrage,  Salfrage,  Salfridg.  Sometime 
after  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Argyle,  Washington  county, 
New  York. 

A  muster  roll  of  the  company  under  Capt.  Isaac  Gray  in  Col. 
Jonathan  Brewer's  regiment  to  Aug.  i,  1775. 


348  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Isaac  Gray,  captain,  John  I3onoley,  private. 

John  McLem,  serg't,  Robert  Gray,  private. 

Thomas  MciMullen,  serg't,  Andrew  McGray,  private, 

Alexander  Conkey,  Corp.,  John  Thurston,  private, 

Wm.  Crossett,  corp.,  Zebulon  Richmond,  private, 

James  Abercromljie,  private,  Bartlett  Roljinson,  private, 

David  Abercrombie,  private.  Thomas  Thompson,  private. 

James  Barnes,  private,  Elijah  Wilson,  private. 

James  Baker,  private,  Amos  Whitney,  private, 

Alexander  Conkey,  private,  Jacob  Conkey,  private. 

These  men  enlisted  May  i,  term  of  service  three  months  and  eight 
days,  miles  travelled  80,  pay  6s — 8d  at  one  penny  per  mile. 

In  a  muster  roll  of  the  Eighth  regiment  of  the  Continental  Army  at 
Dorchester  commanded  by  John  Fellows,  the  name  of  Timothy  Rice 
of  Pelham  appears  and  the  only  one  from  that  town  on  the  roll,  and 
the  record  shows  that  Rice  went  to  Quebec  with  the  Company  to 
which  he  belonged  ;  no  date  is  given. 

In  a  roll  of  Captain  Coburn's  company  of  Colonel  Bridge's  regi- 
ment dated  Sept.  26,  1775.  appears  the  name  of  Gardner  Gould  of 
Pelham. 

William  Haskins  of  Pelham  was  serving  in  Capt.  Ezra  Radlam's 
company  of  Colonel  Gridley's  regiment  Oct.  8,  1775. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  Pelham  Dec.  31,  1776,  Abizer  Edson  and 
Andrew  Abercrombie  were  chosen  assessors,  "  In  room  of  John 
Hamilton  and  James  Caldwell  McMullen  Gone  to  the  War."  Ham- 
ilton's name  appears  on  the  muster  rolls  but  that  of  James  Caldwell 
McMullen  does  not  though  he  probably  was  in  the  service. 

A  return  of  Capt.  William  Todd's  company  in  Col.  Crafts  regi- 
ment of  Artillery  in  Boston,  Nov.  30,  1776,  shows  that  David  Sloan 
was  in  service  in  that  company  and  drew  pay  for  83  miles'  travel  to 
his  home  in  Pelham. 

An  abstract  of  the  Travel  of  Company  commanded  by  Cap't. 
Reuben  Dickinson  of  Amherst — Col.  Woodbridge's  regiment,  to 
Ticonderoga  and  from  thence  home. 

One  penny  per  mile  per  day,  one  day  for  20  miles — in  year  1776. 
Daniel  .Shays,  serg't.  John  Robinson,  private, 

Alexander  AlcCulloch,  serg't,  John  Crossett,  private. 

David  Cowden,  lieutenant,  James  Baker,  private, 

Silas  Conkey,  lifer,  Wm.  (iillmore,  private, 

John  Crafford,private,  Jacob  Conkey,  private, 

Thomas  Hamilton,  private,  David  Abercrombie,  private, 

Thomas  Montgomery,  private,  Thomas  Johnston,  private, 

George  Elliot,  private,  John  Kelley.  private, 

John  Cochran,  private,  Dinnis  Charlton,  private, 

Wm.  Haskins,  private,  James  McCotton,  private. 

Wm.  Blare,  private,  James  Abercrombie, 

John  Donnelly,  private. 


PELHAM    IN    THE    WARS. 


349 


Number  of  miles,  307,  i  penny  per  mile,  £1 — 5s — yd,  i  clay  for  20 
miles,  £2 — 6s — od — ifar,  average  per  man,  £1 — 5s — yd,  average 
amount  for  the  whole,  per  man,  £2 — 6s — od — ifar. 

Very  little  can  be  learned  of  the  militia  companies  of  Pelham  pre- 
vious to  the  Revolution  or  later,  as  no  records  have  been  found  up 
to  this  writing  to  give  light  upon  the  make  up  of  militia  companies. 
A  document  dated  South  Hadley,  March  16,  1776,  an"d  containing  a 
record  of  election  of  ofhcers  for  militia  companies  as  the  law  directs, 
in  the  towns  of  South  Hadley,  Granby,  Greenwich  and  Pelham 
the  following  officers  were  elected  for  the  Pelham  company  :  John 
Thompson,  captain  ;  James  Halbert,  ist  lieut.;  John  Hamilton, 
2d  lieut. 

Muster  Roll  of  Cap't.   Oliver   Lyman's   company,    in    Col.    Dike's 

regiment,  3  months  to  March,  1777,  had  two  Pelham  men  on  it. 

William  Berry,  Corp'l, 
James  Harkness. 

No.  miles,  90,  i  penny  per  mile,  7s — 6d,  wages  travelling  home  at 
28  miles  per  day,  7s — id,  whole  amount,  14s — 7d,  time  in  service^ 
7  days. 

Company  marched  to  East  Hoosick  on  the  alarm  of  August  17th- 
Cap't  Oliver  Lyman  made  oath  to  the  above  before  Jabez  Fisher^ 
Justice  Peace. 

"Amherst,  Mav  15,  1778. 

A  return  of  men  procured  by  Capt.  Eli  Parker  to  serve  in  the  Continental 
Army. 

Nehemiah  Dunbar  Pelham,  enlisted  or   hired  for  the  town  of  Amherst 
served  under   Capt.  Maxwell — Col.  Bangliss, — time  of  engament  8  months,, 
time  ends  Decem  1778. 
Enlisted  for  state  of  Massachusetts  Bay." 

List  of  men  mustered  in  the  Continental  Army  for  nine  months 
services  from  the  County  of  Hampshire  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 


Age. 

Height. 

SO 

5  ft.  9  in. 

49 

5  ft.  9  in. 

3^ 

5  ft.  8  m. 

3S 

5  ft.  join. 

16 

5  ft.  6  in. 

Color  of  Hair. 


Regiment. 


Company. 


Hugh  Johnson, 
James  Hill, 
James  Cammel, 
John  Cowden, 
Amos  Gray, 


Brown 


Dark 
Brown 


Col.  Porter's  Capt.  Thomson's. 


"  South  Hadley,  June  17,  1778. 
Mr.  Johnson-.— Sir  :  You  are  Hereby  directed  to  march  the  men    com- 
mitted to  your  care  the  directest  Road   &  with  convenient  dispatch   to  Fish- 
24 


350  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

kill  and  deliver  them  together  and  not  suffer  them  to  do  any  damage  to  any 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  Towns  through  which  they  may  March,  and  they  are 
herel)y  directed  to  obey  your  orders  on  their  March. 

Noah  Goodman,  Superintendant  for  the  County  of  Hampsliire. 

12  Men  in  Squad:  Leverett  2,  So.  Hadley  i,  Granby  i,  Hatfield  i,  Ches- 
terfield I,  Northampton  i,  Pelham  5—12." 

In  a  list  of  men  raised  in  the  several  Counties  in  the  state  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  fifteen  battalions 
of  Continental  troops  to  be  raised  in  the  state  for  the  period  of  Nine 
Months  from  the  time  of  their  arrival,  agreeable  to  the  resolve  of 
April  6,  1778,  the  name  of  James  Camble  of  Pelham  is  enrolled.  It 
may  be  intended  for  Campbell. 

The  return  of  militia  of  Hampshire  County  who  were  drafted  to 
march  to  Horse  Neck  under  the  command  of  Col.  Sam'l  How,  that 
did  not  join  the  regiment,  has  the  name  of  of  Wm.  McMullen  of  Pel- 
ham.    He  was  in  Cap't  Thompson's  company. 

There  were  enlistments  of  men  for  short  terms  of  service,  three, 
six  and  perhaps  eight  months,  and  the  dates  are  sometime  omitted  ; 
among  them  we  find  a  list  of  Pelham  men — the  date  is  indistinct  and 
the  record  torn, — we  copy  all  that  it  was  possible  to  make  out  and 
the  list  follows  : 


Age. 

Stature. 

Complexion. 

Isaac  Bennett, 
Charles  Handy, 
James  Baker, 
Samuel  Abercrombie, 
John  Hamilton. 
Andrew  McGray, 

21 
18 

5  ft.— 1 1  in. 

6  ft.- 

5  ft.- — 9  in. 

5  ft. 9  in. 

5  ft. 9  in. 

5  ft.— 10  in. 

Ruddy 
Dark 
Ruddy 

Dark 
Ruddy 

In  1779,  the  following  Pelham  men  were  in  Col.  Moseley's  regi- 
ment and  Capt.  Fowler's  company  serving  on  the  Tours  quota  : 

William  McMullen,  Joseph  Gray, 

David  McMullen,  Alexander  McCulloch, 

Joel  Winship,  John  Dart. 

Peter  King, 

In  the  list  of  men  received  for  nine  months"  service  from  Noah 
Goodman,  Esq.,  superintendent  for  Hampshire  county  June  9,  1779, 
are  the  names  of  Pelham  men  as  follows : 

Age.  Age. 

Daniel  Ranliani.  black,                     19  Nehemiah  Dunbar,  brown.                  17 

Reuben  Hollan,  brown.                    19  Nathan  Richards,  brown.                     17 
Josiah  Dunbar,  light,                       18 


PELHAM     IN    THE    WARS. 


351 


Col.  Porter's  regiment ;  Captain  Thompson's  company. 
Descriptive  list  of  men  engaged  to  reinforce  the  Continental  Army 
for  eight  months  agreeable  to  the  resolve  passed  June  g,  1779. 


From  Pelham. 

Age. 

Size. 

Col.  Porter's 
Regiment. 

Capt.  Thompson's 
Company. 

Wm.  McMullen. 
David  McMullen, 

oel  Winship, 

r*eter  King, 
Joseph  (]ray, 
Alexander  McCulloch, 
John  Pratt, 

26 

17 
21 

17 
16 
16 

6  ft.- 
6  ft.- 
5  ft.— 6  in. 
5  ft.— 7  in. 
5  ft.— 6  in. 
5  ft.— 2  in. 
5  ft. — 4  in. 

^ 

'' 

All  dark  complexion. 

Additional   men   mustered  by   Col.   Klisha  Porter,   Aug. 
and  furnished  by  the  town  of  Pelham's  selectmen  July  30. 


780, 


Names. 

Age. 

Statue. 

Complexion. 

Samuel  Thatcb.er, 
John  Coffin. 
James  Conkey, 
■  ames  Hill, 
^amnen  Gray, 

63 

5S 

27 

5  ft. 6  in. 

5  ft. 6  in. 

5  ft. 6  in. 

5  ft — 10  in. 
5  ft. — 10  in. 

Dark 

In  the   company  of   Captain  Dwight  of  Belchertown  were  the  fol- 
lowing Pelham  men  by  record  made  June  22,  17S0. 


Names. 

Age. 

Size. 

Complexion. 

Wm.  McFall. 

67 

5  ft.— 7  in. 

Dark 

Christopher  Stevenson, 

28 

5  ft.— II  in. 

Benjamin  Edson. 

21 

5  ft. —  1 1  in. 

Light 

James  Cowan, 

19 

5  ft. —  II  in. 

" 

Eziah  Baker, 

16 

4  ft.— 10  in. 

" 

Howard  Alden, 

19 

5  ft. 4  in. 

" 

Micah  Pratt. 

5  ft.— 10  in. 

" 

John  Stevens, 

16 

" 

_  onathan  Ingraham, 

21 

5  ft. 6  in. 

"" 

The  eleventh  division  of  six  months  men  marched  from  Spring- 
field  under  or  with  Ensign  Bancroft,  July  11,  1780,  and  George 
Hacket  of  Pelham  was  on  the  rolls,  probably  as  a  private. 

The  29th  division  of  six  months  men  marched  from  Springfield 
July  26,  1780,  and  Joel  Winship"  of  Pelham,  21  years  old  and  of 
ruddy  complexion  marched  with  them. 

In  the  41st  division  of  six  months'  men  who  marched  from  Spring- 
field Oct.  26,  1780  under  Lieut.  Cary  was  Peter  King  of  Pelham, — 
light  complexion,  5  ft.  10  in.  in  height. 


352 


HISI'ORY    OK     I'KI.HAM,    MASS. 


The  39th  division  of  six  months"  men  marched  from  Springfield 
under  Knsign  Simonds  Sept.  7,  1780.  In  it  was  William  lialdwin  of 
Pelhani,  described  as  of  dark  complexion,  5  ft.  8  in.  high  and  30 
years  old. 

John  Harkness  of  Pelham.  20  years  old,  5  ft.  11  in.  high  and  dark 
complexion,  marched  from  Springfield  with  the  4olh  division  of  six 
months'  men  October  1780. 

According  to  a  Resolve  of  the  (general  Court,  Oct.  5,  1781, 
empowering  the  selectmen  to  make  out  pay  rolls  for  the  six  months 
from  the  year  1780,  the  following  roll  was  submitted: 

John  Hamilton  marched  to  camp  June  25  ;  discharged  Dec.  25. 

Steven  Perin,  marched  to  camp  Aug.  7 :  discharged  Feb.  7. 

Peter  Kmg,  marched  to  camp  Aug.  2  ;  discharged  Feb.  2. 

Charles  Kundy,  marched  to  camp,  June  31  ;  discharged  Dec.  31. 

John  Racket,  marched  to  camp  June  6;  discharged  Dec.  6. 

Abner  Smith,  marched  to  camp  July  30  ;  discharged  Jan.  30. 

Seth  Wood,  marched  to  camp  July  10  ;  discharged  Jan.  10. 

George  Hacket,  marched  to  camp  July  10:  discharged  Jan.  10. 

John  Harkness,  marched  to  camp  Sept.  20:  discharged  Dec.  15. 

James  Baker,  marched  to  camp  June  25  :  discharged  Dec.  25. 

Isaac  Bennett,  marched  to  camp  June  25  ;  discharged  Dec.  25. 

Andrew  McCiray,  marched  to  camp  June  9  ;  discharged  Dec.  9. 

Samuel  Abercrombie,  marched  to  camp  July  9;  discharged  Dec.  9. 

Amos  Bran,  marched  to  camp  June  25  ;  discharged  Dec.  25. 

Joel  Winship,  supposed  to  be  deserted. 

Whole  time  of  service,   6  months,  8  days;   number    of    miles   from 

home,  160;  total  amount  of  wages,  £\2  —  los — 8d. 

The  original  sworn  to  before  William  Conkey,  town  clerk. 

From  record  of  town  meeting  at  Pelham,  March  1783  :  "  Voted  to 

Amos  Bran  thirty  pounds  for  his  serving  the  town  as  a  soldier  in  the 

war  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. — Abram  Livermore,   In  behalf 

of  the  Selectmen." 

Pay-roll   for   the  wages   and    traveling  allowance   of   Capt.   Oliver 

Coney's  company,  Colonel    Sears'    regiment  of    levies  raised   for  the 

Continental    service    for   three    months.      Captain    Coney  was   from 

Ware.      Men  from  Pelham  : 

Joshua  Conkey,  Samuel  Crosselt, 

Ezekiel  Conkey,  Calo  Dansett. 

Daniel  Sampson.  John  AIcKlurn. 
Edward  Brown. 

These  men  enlisted  |^Aug.  \2.  1781    and  were   discharged  Nov.  15. 

Pay,  ;^6— 3s— 4d. 


PELHAM     FN     IH  K    WARS.  353 

A  return  of  men  belonging  to  the  town  of  Pelham  in  the  Conti- 
nental Army  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  January  1781. 

Robert   Conkey,  enlisted  Jan.  30.,   1777;  enlisted  by   Lieut.    Taylor   in    2d 

Mass.  regiment,  Capt.  Drew's  company. 
George  Eliot,  enlisted  Mar.  15,  1780;   enlisted  by  Lieut.  Taylor  in  2d  Mass. 

regiment,  Capt.  Alden's  company. 
Nehemiah  Dunbar,  enlisted  Mar.  15,  1780;  enlisted  by   Lieut.  Taylor  in  2d 

Mass.  regiment,  Capt.  Alden's  company. 
Nathaniel  Richmond,  enlisted  Dec.  '79  ;  enlisted  by  Capt.  Howard  in  2d 

Mass.  regiment  Capt.  Alden's  company. 
Amos  Bryant,  enlisted  Jan.    13,   '81  :  enlisted  by  Col.  Greaton  in  3d   Mass. 

regiment,  Capt.  Alden's  company. 
Wm.  Haskins,   enlisted   Nov.  12,   '79;    enlisted  by   Lt.-Col.   Newhall  in   5th 

Mass.  regiment,  Capt.  Trotter's  company. 
John  Pratt,  enlisted  Nov.  23,  '79;  enlisted  by  Calvin  Sawyer  in  51)1   Mass. 

regiment,  Capt.  Trotter's  company. 
Dan'l   McDaniel  enlisted  May '79;  enlisted  by  Lt.  Lunt  in  71)1   ALass.  regi- 
ment, Capt.  Trotter's  company. 

A  list  bearing  date  1781  has  the  following  names  of  Pelham  men  : 

Bartlett  Robinson,  time  of  engagement  Mar.  27,  age  28,  complexion  dark, 

stature  6  ft.  3in.,  occupation  farmer. 
Abijah   Bruce,    time   of   engagement    Mar.    27,   age   45.   complexion   dark, 

stature  5  ft.  7  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
Joseph    (ranson,  time  of  engagement  April   11,    age    20.   complexion    light, 

stature,  5  ft.  10  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
Joseph  Lamb,  time  of  engagement  April  6,  age  18,  complexion  light,  stature 

5  ft.  5  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
Isaac  Bennett,  time  of   engagement  April    20,    age    22.   complexion    light, 

stature  5  ft.  10  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
James  Hill,  time  of  engagement  May  15,   age  48.  complexion  light,    stature 

5  ft.  1 1  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
Wm.  Cando,  time  of  engagement  April  27,  age  27,  complexion  black,  stature 

5  ft.  5  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
James  Baker,  time  of  engagement  May  15,  age  24,  complexion  light,  stature 

5  ft.  4  in.,  occupation  farmer. 
John  Atkinson,  time  of   engagement    May    14,    age   46,  complexion    light, 

stature  5  ft.,  occupation  farmer. 
Ebenezer  Searls,  time  of  engagement   April   10.   age  32,  complexion   light 

stature  6  ft.  2  in.,  occupation  doctor. 

These  men  enlisted  for  three  years. 

"  Pelham,  April  5,  1781. 
This  may  certify  that  the  subscribers  have   Inlisted  to  serve   Three  years 
in  the   Continental  .Service  for  the  town  of  Pelham  &   also  we  have  Rec'd 


354  HISTORY    OK    PEI.HAM,     MASS. 

Ninety  l^ounds  in  liard  money  as  a  hire  for  s'^'  service — We  say  received  by 
us. 

Jamks  Bakkk.  AiujAH  Bruce,  Joski'h  Lamu,  Joseph  Ganson,  Isaac 
Bennett." 

James  Baker  was  discharged  by  Gen.  Washington,  June  9,  1783, 
Baker  having  procured  a  man  to  serve  in  his  place. 

•' In  obedience  to  the  deneral  Court  Act  of  Dec  1780  we  have  raised  & 
marched  the  quota  of  men  sent  for  accordingto  the  Schedule  in  s""  order  and 
these  are  the  names  of  the  men  raised  as  folows  with  the  sum  annexed  to 
each  mans  name  (liven  to  him  as  Hier  or  Bounty  in  Hard  Money. 

Abijah  Bruce  £s)o,  James  Baker  ^90,  Joseph  Ganson  /90,  Isaac  Bennett 
^90,  David  Cowden  ^98 — 8s,  Bartlett    Robinson  ^90,  'Ebeneser  Saris  ^80. 

Whole  amount  ^6S6 — Ss— o. 

This  to  certify  that  the  Selectmen  appeared  before  me  and  gave  oath  to 
this  return.  Ebenezer  Gray,  Town  Clerk. 

Felham,  Jan.  12,  17S1."' 

"  Pelham,  April  18,  1781. 

Then  Received  of  the  class  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Edsons  the  sum  of  ,^^78 — 8s 
for  serving  in  the  Continental  Service  for  three  years  for  said  class. 

I  say  Received  by  me,  David  Cowden. 

Receipts  from  Bartlett  Robinson  and  Ebenezer  Saris  for  the  money  are 
on  file." 

Return  of  men  enlisted  or  Drafted  into  the  Continental  Army  from  the 
Fourth  battalion  of  militia  in  the  county  of  Hampshire  from  Pelham. 

Isaac  Bennett,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Shay's  company,  Col.  Putnam's  battalion. 
Bartlett  Robinson,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Shay's  company,  Col.  Putnam's  battalion. 
James  McDaniel,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Shay's  company,  Col.  Putnam's  battalion. 
Jacob  Turrell,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Shay's  company.  Col.  Putnam's  battalion. 
James  Baker,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Shay's  company,  Col.  Putnam's  battalion. 
Job  Ransom,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Maxwell's  company.  Col.  Bayley's  battalion. 
Robert  Conkey,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Maxwell's  company,  Col.  Bayley's  battalion. 
Cato — Negro,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Maxwell's  company.  Col.  Bayley's  battalion. 
Daniel  McDaniel,  enlisted  Capt.  Day's  company.  Col.  Alden's  battalion. 
James  Conkey,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Millington's  company.  Col.  Wigglesworth's 

battalion. 
Joseph  Rankin,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Maxwell's  company.  Col.  Bayley's  battalion. 
Patrick   McMullen,   enlisted   in    Capt.   Maxwell's  company,  Col.  Bayley's 

battalion. 
William    Conkey,    enlisted    in    Capt.    Maxwell's    company.    Col.    Bayley's 

battalion. 
John    McRankin.    enlisted    in    Capt.    Maxwell's    company.    Col.    Bayley's 

battalion. 
John  Prebble,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Maxwell's  company.  Col.  Bayley's  battalion. 


PELHAM    IN    THE    WARS. 


355 


No  date  to  the  above  return.  Moses  Ransom  was  also  in  the  ser- 
vice, but  perhaps  not  in  this  battahon.  These  men  enlisted  from 
Capt.  Thomas'  company. 

In  a  list  of  men  without  officers  names,  or  date,  but  including  men 

from  Western  Mass.  the  following  list  of  men  from  Pelham  are  given  : 

Isaac  Bennett,  Joel  Winship, 

Charles  Handy,  John  Racket, 

James  Baker,  Amos  Brand, 

Samuel  Abercrombie,  William  Baldwin, 

John  Hamilton,  John  Harkness, 

Andrew  McGray,  Seth  Ward. 

The  Surname,  Abercrombie,  is  spelled  variously  on  the  old  muster 
rolls,  viz.:  Abercrombie,  Abercromney,  Abecrombey,  Abercumby, 
Abercrombee,  Abercromby,  Abicrombey,  Abercrumbe,  Abercrome, 
Crombe,  Ebercrombie.  The  common  pronunciation  in  Pelham  60 
years  ago  was  the  same  as  though  the  name  was  spelled  Crummy, 
the  first  two  syllables  (Aber)  were  dropped  entirely  except  when 
written. 

A  muster  roll  to   draw   billiting    money   for  a  company  of   militia 

under  the  command  of  Capt.  Elijah   Dwight  of  Belchertown,  which 

included  the  following  Pelham  men, — no  date. 

John  Thompson,  lieutenant,  Abraham  Livermore, 

Asa  iMcConkey,  drummer,  Mathew  Clark, 

Daniel  Gray,  John  Pebles, 

James  Crossett,  Adam  Clark, 

Eliot  Gray,  Isaac  Craford. 

Elijah  Dwight,  captain.  These  men  were  paid  14s  each  for  168 
miles  travel  at  one  penny  per  mile. 

Capt.  Joshua  Parker's  company,  Col.  Nathaniel  Ward's  regiment. 

At  service  in  Rhode  Island.     No  date  : 

James  Harkness,  corporal,  Peter  King,  private, 

Thomas  Harlow,  private,  John  Harkness,  private. 

Nathaniel  Gray,  father  of  "  Cooper  "  John  Gray,  and  grandfather 
of  Horace  Gray  of  Northampton  and  of  Nathaniel  Gray  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, deceased,  is  said  to  have  died  in  the  service  at  32  but  in  what 
company  or  regiment  is  not  known. 

Pelham   Men  in  the  \\^a.r  of   18 12. 

The  records  of  the  service  in  the  war  of  1812  101815  ^^^  ^^^ 
easily  accessible.  On  enquiring  at  the  State  House  one  is  referred 
to  Washington,  D.  C,  and  no  satisfying  results  are  obtained  as  a 
reward  for  diligent  and  painstaking  effort  at  the  capital. 


356  HISrORV    OK     FKLHAM,     MASS. 

Not  very  many  Pelham  men  were  called  out  for  service  in  the  war  of 
18 1 2,  and  those  who  were  called  out  did  not  see  much  active  service. 
The  few  that  were  called  marched  from  Pelham  to  Cambridge  where 
they  were  in  camp  or  quartered  for  some  time.  The  writer  used  to 
listen  to  the  tales  some  of  those  men  told  of  their  experience  during 
the  time  they  were  serving  their  country  while  in  camp  at  Cambridge 
and  they  were  not  tales  of  suffering  and  fatigue  from  long  marches 
and  other  hard  service,  but  rather  of  jolly  times  in  camp  while 
awaiting  marching  orders  which  never  came.  All  returned  home  in 
a  few  weeks  or  months  at  most  as  there  was  no  further  need  of  men 
in  active  service. 

One  or  two  of  these  stories  may  not  be  out  of  place  here.  Leonard 
EalloLi,  one  of  the  Pelham  militia  that  was  called  out  by  the  war  of 
18 1 2,  marched  to  Cambridge  with  others  and  was  probably  no  worse 
than  others  in  raiding  the  country  along  the  line  of  march  for  sup- 
plies. Toward  morning  of  one  night  of  the  march  to  Cambridge  the 
crowing  of  a  cock  in  a  large  apple  tree  near  a  farm  house  attracted 
the  attention  of  some  of  the  young  men  and  a  plan  formed  to  get  the 
rooster.  It  was  pretty  dark  and  not  easy  to  see  just  where  in  the 
tree  the  bird  was.  Two  cider  barrels  that  were  found  under  the  tree 
were  used  by  placing  one  on  the  top  of  the  other,  and  Ballou  was 
lifted  to  the  top  of  the  two  barrels  standing  on  end  and  he  quietly 
waited  for  the  rooster  to  crow  again  so  that  he  might  locate  him. 
After  awaiting  in  silence  for  some  time  the  rooster  started  to  crow 
again  as  in  duty  bound  to  usher  in  daylight  in  the  east.  The  bird 
was  within  reach  and  Ballou  seized  him  by  the  neck  cutting  off  the 
clarion  notes  with  a  strangled  sound  caused  by  the  grip,  about  its 
neck,  of  Ballou's  right  hand.  In  the  effort  made  in  seizing  the 
rooster,  the  cider  barrels  canted  sideways  and  Ballou  and  the  barrels 
came  to  the  ground,  but  he  held  fast  to  the  rooster. 

Uncle  Eseck  Cook,  the  Quaker,  was  a  non-combatant  in  principle, 
but  he  took  pity  on  young  Ballou  in  being  suddenly  ordered  to  march 
to  Cambridge,  and  loaned  his  long  gray  overcoat  to  him.  Ballou 
accepted  the  offer  of  the  coat  and  wore  it  when  the  weather  demanded 
it  and  sometimes  when  it  did  not.  The  coat  came  down  nearly  to 
his  ankles  and  was  ample  in  size  and  Ballou  found  it  very  convenient 
and  useful  to  hide  an  occasional  fish  from  a  peddlar's  wagon  that 
came  to  camp,  when  opportunity  offered  by  the  peddlar's  attention 
being  drawn  aside.     The  folds  of  the  long  coat  hid  many  things  dur- 


PKLHAM     IN    THE    WARS.  357 

ing  the   stay  at  Cambridge  and  was  returned  to  Uncle  Eseck  when 

the  Pelham  contingent  arrived  home,  and  young  Ballou  thanked  him 

for  the  loan,  at  the  same  time  telling  how  handy  he  found  it  to  secrete 

things  the  soldiers  needed.     Uncle  Eseck  was  thunder-struck,  but  his 

only  remark  was  :    ''  I  think  it  would  have  been  better  if  thee  had  not 

had   the  coat." 

The  following   list  of   Pelham    men   is   all  we   have   been   able    to 

obtain  of  those  who   were  called  out  at  that  time.      There   may  have 

been  more  but  the  inability  to  reach  the  muster  rolls  makes  it  useless 

to    claim   a   full   and   complete  list.     The   names  and    rank  were  as 

follows : 

Capt.  John  Taylor,  and  privates  Leonard  Ballou. 

John  T.  Conkey.  Sidney  H annum. 

Grove  W.  H annum,  Henry  H annum. 

Luther  Lincoln.  Luther  Thompson, 

James  Smith,  Joseph  Barrows. 
Amasa  Jillson. 

Capt.  John  Taylor  was  in  command  on  the  march  from  Pelham  to 

Boston. 

Thk    Mexican    War. 

The  Mexican  war  was  not  a  long  one  and  very  few  men  from 
Massachusetts  were  called  out  for  service  then,  and  so  far  as  can  be 
learned  no  Pelham  man  saw  service  in  Mexico. 

Record, OF   Pelham   Soldiers   ix  the  Rebellion. 

The  record  of  the  town  in  its  contribution  of  men  and  means  for 
the  suppression  of  the  great  rebellion  of  1861  to  1865  is  an  honor- 
able one.  The  population  of  the  town  in  i860  was  748  and  the  val- 
uation $162,635.  T'"'^  number  of  men  between  the  ages  of  18  and 
45  on  the  rolls  for  military  duty  in  1861  was  only  100.  Seventy- 
five  men  were  contributed  to  the  great  work  of  saving  the  country 
from  destruction  by  those  who  had  risen  up  in  arms  against  it,  and 
most  of  them  by  voluntary  enlistment,  or  five  more  than  the  town 
was  called  upon  to  send. 

In  common  with  many  other  towns  in  the  state  it  was  found 
impossible  to  fill  by  enlistment  the  quotas  of  men  called  for  by  the 
state  authorities  with  as  much  celerity  as  the  need  of  men  demanded, 
and  there  was  a  draft  from  the  enrolled  militia  in  1863  of  20  men,  a 
list  of  them  being  given  in  full.     Of  this  number  seven  pas.sed  exami- 


358  HISIORY    (JF     I'KLHAM,     MASS. 

nation  and  were  accepted.  Two  of  the  seven  went  to  the  front  and 
the  other  five  paid  $300  commutation  money  and  remained  at  home. 
In  1864  the  draft  was  resorted  to  again,  when  ten  of  the  enrolled 
men  were  drawn  ;  hve  were  declared  ht  for  military  duty  and  each 
paid  $300  commutation  money,  and  the  other  five  were  exempted,  or 
failed  to  appear  for  reasons  unknown  or  not  fully  shown  by  the  town 
record. 

The  enlistments  and  service  of  Pelham  men  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  are  given  in  the  order  of  enlistment  as  gathered  from  the 
rebellion  record  kept  by  the  town  and  from  regimental  histories,  the 
Adjutant  General's  report,  and  other  reliable  sources. 

The  first  enlistment  from  the  town  was  that  of  Joseph  PYeeland 
Bartlett,  born  in  Ware,  July  25,  1843.  He  enlisted  in  the  10th 
Massachusetts  regiment  June  21,  1861,  and  served  with  that  regi- 
ment three  years,  when,  having  re -enlisted,  he  was  transferred  to  the 
37th  Massachusetts  regiment,  and  in  June,  1865,  was  transferred  to 
the  20th  regiment,  from  which  he  was  discharged  July  28,  1865, 
having  served  continuously  at  the  front  during  the  entire  war,  with 
the  exception  of  three  months  when  he  was  in  the  hospital  with 
wounds.  He  was  promoted  2d  lieutenant,  37th  Massachusetts  regi- 
ment, May  24,  1865;  ist  lieutenant,  20th  Massachusetts  regiment, 
June  I,  1865.  He  participated  in  ^3  of  the  great  battles  of  the  war. 
including  all  the  battles  around  Richmond  in  1862,  Antietam,  Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Wilderness,  Sheridan's  bat- 
tles in  the  Shenandoah  valley.  Petersburg,  Sailor  creek,  and  Appo- 
mattox at  the  surrender  of  Lee.  He  was  also  with  the  6th  army 
corps  in  North  Carolina  when  Johnson  surrendered  to  Sherman. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  and  severely  at 
battle  of  the  Wilderness. 

Manley  Jillson,  45,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  private  June  21, 
1861,  mustered  into  loth  Mass.  regiment,  Company  C,  for  three 
years  June  21,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  Nov.  29,  1862. 

Henry  E.  Wheeler,  26,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  private  Sept. 
21,  186 1,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass.  regiment  Sept.  30,  1861 
for  three  years,  Company  G  ;  discharged  July  29,  1862. 

Solomon  Rhoads,  18,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  September  1861  as 
a  private,  was  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass.  regiment,  Sept.  20, 
1861   for  three    years.   Company    I;  discharged    Dec.   24,    1863     to 


PELHAM     IN     THE    WARS.  359 

re-enlist;  mustered    in   the   second   time  Dec.   24,  1863,   discharged 
June  26,  1865,  at  expiration  of  service. 

George  A.  Griffin,  20,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Sept.  29,  1861, 
mustered  into  27th  Mass.  regiment,  Company  G,  Sept.  29,  1861  for 
three  years;  term  of  service  expired  Sept.  27,  1864. 

Charles  Griffin,  35,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Sept.  30,  1861,  mus- 
tered into  27th  Mass.  regiment,  Company  C,  for  three  years ;  dis- 
charged Sept.  4,  1862.  Enlisted  again  July  11,  1864  in  the  Third 
Heavy  Artillery.  Received  $175  bounty  from  the  town,  discharged 
[uly  27.  1864,  at  Gallops  Island  on  surgeon's  certiticate  of  disability. 

Otis  B.  Griffin,  23,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Oct.  11,  1861,  was 
mustered  into  27th  Mass.  regiment.  Company  G.  for  three  years,  Oct. 
II,  1861  ;  discharged  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Erastus  S.  Southwick,  40,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Oct.  8,  1861, 
mustered  into  27th  Mass.  regiment  Oct.  15,  1861,  Company  G,  for 
three  years  ;  discharged  July  29,  1862. 

Stephen  Rhoads,  28,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Oct.  21,  1861,  mus- 
tered into  31st  Mass.  regiment,  Company  C,  for  three  years,  Oct. 
21,  1861  ;  discharged  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability  at  New 
Orleans,  April  18,  1864.     No  bounty. 

Francis  A.  Blodgett,  22,  was  mustered  into  the  31st  Mass.  regi- 
ment. Company  C,  Nov.  20,  1861  ;  he  was  discharged  that  he  might 
re-enlist  Feb.  14,  1864.  He  was  a  sergeant,  discharged  Sept.  9, 
1865  at  expiration  of  service.  Bounty  S423.33.  Record  says  New 
Salem  was  place  of  residence. 

Charles  R.  Cleveland,  41,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Oct.  21,  1861, 
mustered  into  31st  Mass.  regiment,  Company  F,  for  three  years,  Oct. 
21,  1861  ;  transferred  to  Veterans'  Relief  Corps  April  20,  1864. 

William  S.  Pratt,  43,  enlisted  from  Pelham  in  31st  INIass.  regi- 
ment, Company  C,  or  was  credited  to  the  town,  was  mustered  in 
Oct.  21,  1861  ;  deserted  Dec.  7,  i86i.     No  bounty. 

Sanford  M.  Lovett,  55,  born  in  Cumberland,  R.  L,  enlisted  Nov. 
I,  i85i,  mustered  into  31st  Mass.  regiment.  Company  F,  for  three 
years  as  a  private  Nov.  i,  186 1  ;  discharged  Nov.  18,  1862  for  dis- 
ability. The  Adjutant  Generals'  report  says  he  was  44  when  he 
enlisted,  but  55  is  believed  to  be  his  right  age  at  that  time. 

Harrison  L.  Horr,  19,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Nov.  4,  r86i,  mus- 
tered into  31st  Mass.  regiment.  Company  F,  as  a  private,  for  three 
years,  Nov.  4,  1861  ;  discharged  Dec.  20,  1864,  at  New  Orleans,  his 
term  of  service  having  expired.      He  held  the  rank  of  sergeant. 


360  msroKV    OF    PEI.HAM,    MASS. 

Charles  H.  Horr,  26,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Nov.  22,  1861, 
mustered  into  the  31st  Mass.  regiment,  Company  F,  as  a  private  for 
three  years,  died  at  New  Orleans  Dec.  7,  1864  from  wounds  received 
in  the  service.  He  was  first  sergeant  of  his  company.  The  town 
record  says  that  Horr  enlisted  Nov.  22,  1861,  and  the  Adjutant 
Generals'  report  states  that  he  was  mustered  in  Oct.  22. 

John  Shaw,  40,  born  in  Granby,  enlisted  Aug.  9,  1862,  as  a 
private  in  27th  Mass.  regiment,  was  not  sent  to  the  front;  dis- 
charged in  a  few  days.  Received  $100  bounty  from  town,  lived  in 
town  until  his  death. 

Otis  B.  Hill,    born    in  ,  enlisted   Aug.  g,  1862    as  a  private 

in  the  27th  Mass.  regiment,  was  not  sent  to  the  front  :  discharged 
in  a  few  days.     Received  $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

Patrick  Bailey,  born  in  Ballybane,  County  of  Cork,  Ireland,  enlist- 
ed Aug.  9,  1862,  as  a  private  for  three  years,  mustered  into  the  27th 
Mass.  regiment  Dec.  21,  1863  ;  discharged  June  15,  1865,  by  order 
War  department.      Received  $ico  bounty  from  the  town. 

Henry  ISarrows,  22,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  for  three  years,  Aug. 
9,  1862,  as  a  private  in  the  27th  Mass.  regiment,  did  not  go  to  the 
front;  discharged  Aug.  29,  1862.  Received  $100  bounty  from  the 
town. 

Otis    Kimball,    21,    born    in  ,    enlisted    as  a   private   Aug.   9, 

1862,  for  three  years,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass.  regiment,  Com- 
pany H,  Aug.  26,  1862  ;  discharged  July  2,  1863,  for  disability.  Re- 
ceived $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

Franklin  Bramble,  35,  born  in enlisted  Aug.  9,  1862,  for  three 

years  as  a  private,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass,  regiment.  Company 
K,  Aug.  29,  1862  ;  discharged  to  re-enlist  Jan.  i,  1864,  mustered 
second  time  Jan.  2.  1864;  term  expired  June  26,  1865.  Received 
$100  bounty  from   the  town. 

John  F.   Nichols,   22,  born  in  enlisted  as  a  private  for  three 

years,  Aug.  8,  (862,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass.  regiment,  Com- 
pany I),  Aug.  II,  1862  ;  discharged  Dec.  31,  1863,  at  Norfolk,  Va. 
Re-enlisted,  discharged  Dec.  31,  1863,  at  Annapolis  Md.  June  15, 
1865;  was  in  Libby  prison  18  days.  Received  Si 00  bounty  from 
the  town. 

Joseph  I).  Whitney,  25,  born  in  Fast  Boylston,  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate, for  three  years,  Aug.  25,  1862,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass. 
regiment  Company  I,  Aug.  25,  1862  ;  discharged  June  23,    1863.  at 


PELHAM     IN    THE    WARS.  361 

New  Berne,  N.  C.  for  physical  disability.   Received  $ioo  bounty  from 
the  town. 

Joseph  E.  Boynton,  18,  born  in  Pelhain,  enlisted  as  a  private,  for 
three  years,  Aug.  25,  1862,  mustered  in  Aug,  25,  1862,  died  at 
Baltimore,  Md.  Dec.  4,  1864.      Received  $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

Frederick  Dane.  24,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  for  three  years  as  a 
private,  unassigned,  mustered  in  Aug.  25,  1862,  and  was  discharged 
Sept.  10,  1862,  at  Camp  Day  for  disability.  Received  $roo  from 
the  town. 

Stillman  Abercrombie,  32,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  musician 
Aug  27,  1862,  for  nine  months  in  Company  G,  5 2d  Mass.  regiment, 
mustered  in  Oct.  11,  1862,  regiment  started  for  Louisiana  in  Nov- 
ember 1862,  returned  to  Massachusetts  Aug.  3,  1863  ;  discharged 
Aug.  14,  1863.     Received  $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

Joseph  D.  Allen,  18,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  private,  Sept.. 
I,  1862,  for  nine  months,  was  mustered  into  the  52d  Mass.  regiment. 
Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  left  Massachusetts  for  Louisiana  Nov.  20,. 
1862,  regiment  returned  to  the  state  Aug.  3,  1863  ;  discharged  Aug. 
14,  1863.     Received  $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

Dexter  R.  Barnes,  19,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  private  Aug. 
27,  1862,  for  nine  months  service,  was  mustered  into  the  52d  regi- 
ment,  Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  the  regiment  marched  for  Louis- 
iana, Nov.  20,  1862,  did  not  return  until  Aug.  3,  1863  ;  discharged 
Aug.  14,  1863.     Received  $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

William  P.  Montgomery,  30,  born  in  J^nfield,  enlisted  Aug.  22,. 
1862,  as  a  private  for  nine  months,  was  mustered  into  the  52d 
Mass.  regiment,  Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  regiment  marched  for 
Louisiana  Nov.  20,  1862,  returned  Aug.  3,  1863  ;  discharged  Aug. 
14,  1S64.  Received  a  bounty  of  $100  from  the  town.  Re-enlisted 
Sept.  3,  1864,  in  the  First  regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  mustered  in 
Sept.  3,  i864,  mustered  out  June  4,  1865,  at  expiration  of  service. 
Received  $450  bounty. 

Charles  H.  Sanger,  t8,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  private  for 
nine  months,  mustered  into  the  52d  Mass.  regiment.  Company  G, 
Aug.  I  I,  1862,  marched  south  with  the  regiment  Nov.  20,  1863,  re- 
turned Aug.  3,  1862  ;  mustered  out  Aug.  16,  1863.  Received  $100 
bounty  from  the  town. 

Amos  D.  Leonard,  28,  born  in  Minerva,  N.  Y.,  enlisted  as  a  priv- 
ate for  nine  months,  Sept.  3,  1862,  mustered  into  the  52d  Mass.  regi- 


362  HISIOKV    OK    I'Kl.HAiM,     MASS. 

ment,  Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  went  with  the  regiment  to  Louis- 
iana, Nov.  20,  1862,  returned  Aug.  14,  1863;  mustered  out  Aug. 
14,  1863.  Received  $100  l)ounty  from  the  town.  Flis  last  known 
residence  was  in  Minnesota. 

Daniel  Cook,  32,  born  in  I'elham,  enlisted  as  a  private  for  nine 
months,  Aug.  27,  1862,  mustered  into  the  52d  Mass.  regiment.  Com- 
pany G,  Oct.  II,  1862,  was  made  corporal,  went  south  with  the  regi- 
ment, Nov.  20,  1862   returned  Aug.  3,  1863  ;     mustered  out  Aug.  14, 

1863.  Received  $100  bounty  from  the  town. 

Edmund  S.  EUsbree,  ig.  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  Sept.  i,  1862, 
as  a  private  for  nine  months,  mustered  into  the  52d  Mass.  regiment. 
Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  sailed  for  Louisiana,  Nov.  20,  1862, 
returned  Aug.  3,  1863  ;  mustered  out  Aug.  20,  1863.  Received  $100 
bounty  from  the  town. 

Amaziah  Robinson,  38,  born  in  Jamaica,  Vt.,  enlisted  as  a  private 
for  nine  months  Aug.  24,  1862,  mustered  into  the  52d  Mass.  regiment, 
Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  went  with  the  regiment  to  Louisiana, 
returned  Aug.  3,  1863  ;  mustered  out  Aug.  1 1,  1863.  Received  $100 
bounty  from  the  town.      Has  resided  in  Pelham  since  the  war. 

Nelson  Witt,  29,  born  in  North  Dana,  enlisted  as  a  private  for 
nine  months,  Aug.  30,  1862,  mustered  into  the  5 2d  Mass.  regiment, 
Company  G,  Oct.  11,  1862,  went  with  the  regiment  to  Louisiana, 
Nov.  20,  1862,  was  wounded  at  L-ish  Bend,  lived  to  come  back  Aug. 
3,  1863.  Died  at  Belchertown.  Received  $100  bounty  from  the 
town. 

Thomas  Linds,  40,  born  at enlisted  June  2,    1863,  for  three 

years,  mustered  into  the  Second  Heavy  Artillery,  Company  A,  July 
28,  1863  ;  discharged  Sept  3,  1865,  at  expiration  of  service. 

James  D.  Mower,  20,  born  at  l^rattleboro  Vt.  was  drafted  in  1863, 
Examined  and  excepted,  mustered  into  the  22d  Mass.  regiment, 
July,  20,  1863,  Company  L  transferred  to  32d  Mass.  regiment,  Oct.  6. 

1864,  Company  M  ;  company  was  mustered  out  when  Mower  was  at 
home  on  a  furlough  in  the  spring  of  1865. 

Joel  Cutting,  31,  born  at  East  Boylston,  drafted  in  1863,  exam- 
ined and  accepted,  mustered  into  the  32nd  Mass.  regiment.  Company 
B,  Sept.  14,  1863  ;  mustered  out  June  i.  1865,  by  order  of  \\'ar 
department. 

John  O.  Rhoads,  22,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  as  a  private  Dec.  1, 
1863,  for  three  years,  in  First  Regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  Company 
I,  mustered  in  Dec.  i,  1863.  discharged  Aug.  5   1865. 


PELHAM     IN    THE    WARS.  363 

George    A.    Gardner,    24,    born    in  enlisted   Dec.    i,    1863, 

for  three  years  as  a  private,  mustered  into  the  4th  Mass.  cavahy,  Jan, 
27,  1864,  Company  E;  mustered  out  Nov.  14,  1865,  at  expiration  of 
service.     IJounty  $325. 

George  W.  Allen,    44,    born  in   enlisted  Dec.   7,    1863    as    a 

private  for  three  years,  mustered  into  the  ist  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery, 
Company  I,  Dec.  7,  1863.  Died  of  wounds  Oct.  29,  1864  at  Peters- 
burg, Va. 

Truman  Squares,  18,  born  in  Shutesbury,  enlisted  Dec.  21,  1863, 
as  a  private  for  three  years,  in  57th  Mass.  Infantry,  Company  B, 
mustered  in  Jan.  24,  1864.  Killed  at  Spottsylvania,  May  7,  1864. 
Bounty  $325. 

Thomas    Fergerson,  32,   born    in    ■  enlisted    as  a   private    for 

three  years,  Dec.  26,  1863,  musteredinto  the  4th  Mass.  Cavalry  regi- 
ment, Company  E,  Jan.  27,  1864;  mustered  out  Nov.  14,  1865  at 
expiration  of  service.     Bounty  $325. 

Garrett  O'Neal,  22,  born  in  Northampton,  enlisted  for  three  years 
as  a  private,  Dec.  28,  1863,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass.  regiment. 
Company  G. 

Philander  Pike,  38,  born  in  Petersham,  enlisted  as  a  private  for 
three  years,  mustered  into  the  27th  Mass.  regiment,  Company  1, 
Jan.  5,  1864;  discharged  Dec.  7,  1864.     Bounty  $325. 

Simeon    Gilbert,    42,    born    in  enlisted    for    three    years    as 

a  private,  mustered  into  the  2d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  Company  G, 
Dec.  7,  1863.      Died  July   29,    1864,  at   Andersonville,  Ga.      Bounty, 

5325- 

William  O.  Kimball,  23,  born  in  Amherst,  enlisted  in  ist  Mass. 
regiment  Heavy  Artillery  for  three  years,  July  11,  1864,  mustered  into 
Company  I,  July  11,1864.      Discharged  April  2,  1865.      Bounty$325. 

Charles  A.  Abbott,  18,  born  in  Wilbraham,  enlisted  in  ist  regi- 
ment Heavy  Artillery,  Company  C,  mustered  in  Aug.  i,  1864;  dis- 
charged Aug.  16,  1865,  at  expiration  of  service,  in  Company  M. 
Bounty  $325. 

George  E.  Witherell,  22,  born  in enlisted  in  ist  regi- 
ment Heavy  Artillery,  Company  I,  mustered  in  Sept.  3,  1864;  dis- 
charged June  4,  1865  at  expiration  of  service.      Bounty  $181.32. 

Henry    \A'ood,    31,  born    in    ■ enlisted  in    ist  regiment  Heavy 

Artillery,   Company   H;    discharged   March    13,    1864,    to   re-enlist. 


364  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

mustered  in  March  14,  1864;  discharged  April  i,  1865  for  disabiUty. 
Bounty  $421.99. 

Madison  L.  Fales,  18,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  for  three  years  in 
Company  C,  ist  regiment  Heavy  Artillery,  mustered  in  Sept.  7,  1864. 
Died  March  31,  1865.     Bounty  $234. 

Norman  S.  Fales,  19,  born  in  Pelham,  enlisted  in  First  regiment 
Heavy  Artillery,  Company  C,  for  three  years,  mustered  in  Sept.  7 
1864,  died    Dec.  iS,  1864,    in  the  2d  Corps  hospital.      Bounty  $181. 

Frederick   Grover.    iS.   born    in enlisted    in    First   regiment 

Heavy  Artillery,  Company  C,  for  three  years,  mustered  in  Sept.  7, 
1864  ;  discharged  June  4,  1865,  at  expiration  of  service.  $125  town 
bounty. 

Dennis  V.  Champlin,  23,  born  in  Amherst,  enlisted  for  three  years 
in  the  54th  Mass.  regiment,  transferred  to  the  55th  regiment.  Com- 
pany B,  mustered  in  Dec.  28,  1864  ;  discharged  Aug.  26,  1865,  at 
expiration  of  service. 

Joseph  R.  Hunt,  23,  musician,  mustered  into  46th  regiment. 
Company  H,  October,  1862  ;  dischargedfor  disability,  Jan.  14.  1863. 

Levi  G.  Osborn,  38,  mustered  into  52d  Mass.  regiment  Oct.  11, 
1862  ;  discharged  Aug.  14,  1863. 

William  B.  Fales,  30,  born  in  Pelham,  mustered  into  52d  Mass. 
regiment,  Aug.  27,  1862  ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Oak  Ridge,  Irish 
Bend  and  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson;  discharged  Aug.  14,  1863. 

Lauriston  Barnes,  enlisted  as  a  private  Aug.  29,  1862,  mustered 
into  the  52d  regiment.  Company  G.  Oct.  11,  1862  ;  discharged  Aug. 
14,  1863. 

Murray  B.  Lovett,  22,  born  in  Pelham,  mustered  into  loth  regi- 
ment. Company  K,  June  21,  1861  ;  died  June  4,  1862,  at  Fair  Oaks, 
Virginia. 

William  Jones,  19,  mustered  into  the  ist  Infantry,  March  8.  1865. 
Bounty  $325. 

The  number  credited  to  the  town  by  the  re-enlistments  of  Joseph 
F.  Bartlett,  John  T.  Nichols,  Wm.  P.  Montgomery,  Franklin  Bramble, 
Francis  A.  Blodgett,  Solomon  Rhoads,  Charles  Griffin  and  Henry 
Wood  carries  the  number  up  to  6g.  After  the  draft  in  June,  1864 
there  were  five  or  six  enlistments  made  in  Boston,  near  the  close  of 
the  war,  of  men  who  probably  did  not  go  to  the  front  and  whose 
names  are  not  known,  making  75  men  that  the  town  should  have 
credit  for,  or  rive  men  above  all  calls  made  upon  the  town. 


PELHAM    IN    THE    WARS.  365 

The  men  were  distributed  among  various  military  organizations. 
Mass.  27th  regiment,  i6;  52d  regiment,  13  ;  ist  Heavy  Artillery  10; 
31st  regiment,  7  ;  loth  regiment,  3  ;  2d  Heavy  Artillery,  3  ;  3d  Heavy 
Artillery,  2  ;  4th  Calvary,  2  ;  37th  regiment,  i ;  20th  regiment,  i ;  46th 
regiment,  i  ;  55th  regiment,  i  ;  57th  regiment,  i  ;  besides  those  who 
were  unassigned.  We  are  indebted  to  Rev.  John  Jones,  who  was 
chairman  of  the  recruiting  committee  during  the  war,  for  valuable 
aid  in  perfecting  the  roll  of  Pelham  men  who  served  in  the  army; 
many  of  whom  he  enlisted  and  took  to  the  recruiting  officers,  and 
personally  attended  to  the  collection  of  bounty  money  for  them. 


25 


The  Shays  Rebellion  of  1786-87. 


The  rebellion  against  the  government  of  the  state  of  Massachusetts 
in  1786—87,  whose  acknowledged  leader  was  Capt.  Daniel  Shays,  a 
citizen  of  Pelham,  makes  it  necessary  to  give  a  more  extended  notice 
of  this  insurgent  outbreak  than  would  be  necessary  in  writing  the 
local  history  of  almost  any  other  town  in  the  state,  as  it  was  here  the 
leading  spirit,  that  gave  the  rebellion  its  name  resided  as  a  respected 
citizen,  who  was  honored  by  election  to  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  It  was  at  the  old  Conkey  tavern  in  the  "  Hollow" 
that  he  met  the  dissatisfied  turbulent  spirits  who  were  weighed  down 
with  debts  and  numerous  other  real  or  imagined  grievances,  and 
discussed  the  situation  before  the  wide  open  fire  places  of  the 
hostelry,  and  when  protracted  argument  and  excitement  caused  thirst, 
they  quenched  it  by  sampling  the  well  assorted  liquors  which  Land- 
lord Conkey  was  noted  for  keeping  in  his  cellar. 

Shays  doubtless  enjoyed  the  good  cheer  as  well  as  any  who  gath- 
ered there  with  him  to  talk  over  their  mutual  troubles  ;  he  joined  with 
them  in  charging  the  State  with  oppression;  was  as  ready  as  they  to 
declare  for  the  removal  of  the  General  Court  from  the  City  of  Bos- 
ton ; — to  shout  down  with  the  lawyers  ;  to  demand  the  abolition  of  the 
courts  ;  to  cry  for  a  revision  of  the  constitution  and  to  clamor  for 
paper  money  and  other  things  which  they  may  have  honestly  believed 
were  necessary  for  the  relief  of  the  people.  And  as  the  excite- 
ment increased  and  the  mutterings  of  the  people  turned  to  open 
threats  of  opposition  by  force  of  arms,  the  experience  of  Capt.  Shays 
as  a  soldier  became  of  value  in  organizing  and  drilling  the  men  in 
the  manual  of  arms. 

It  must  be  conceded  that  the  people  were  in  much  distress  from 
the  pressure  of  hard  times  and  honestly  believed  they  were  oppressed 
with  grievances  unbearable  ;  but  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  they 
had  any  intention  at  the  beginning  of  the  agitation  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  state.  They  must  have  believed  it  perfectly  proper  to 
gather  in  conventions  for  consultation,  for  the   nineteenth  article  of 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  367 

the  Constitution  of  Massachusetts  declares  :  "  The  people  have  a 
right,  in,  an  orderly  and  peaceable  manner,  to  assemble  to  consult  for 
the  common  good  ;  give  instructions  to  their  representatives,  and  to 
request  of  the  legislative  body,  by  way  of  addresses,  petitions  or 
remonstrances,  redress  for  the  wrongs  done  them,  and  the  grievances 
they  suffer  ;  "  Certainly  the  earlier  conventions  were  not  to  be  con- 
sidered disorderly,  but  seem  to  have  been  conducted  "  in  an  orderly 
and  peaceable  manner  ".  These  conventions  for  the  consideration 
of  "  grievances  "'  began  to  be  held  in  Western  Massachusetts  as 
early  as  1781  or  before  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  but 
these  gatherings  did  not  attract  much  attention  until  the  summer  of 
1786.  This  course  would  seem  to  have  been  a  proper  one  for  the 
people  to  bring  the  attention  of  the  General  Court  to  whatever  real 
grievances  the  people  were  suffering  under.  Doubtless  these  con- 
ventions became  less  peaceable  and  orderly  as  the  unrest  and  discon- 
tent increased  under  the  leadership  of  rash  and  unscrupulous  men 
who  joined  the  movement,  until  the  people  found  themselves  with 
arms  in  their  hands  in  rebellion  against  the  constituted  government 
of  the  state. 

One  of  the  most  important  conventions  held,  as  the  people  believed 
under  a  constitutional  right,  for  the  redress  of  grievances,  was  held 
at  Hatfield  August  22,  1786.  Fifty  towns  of  Hampshire  county 
were  represented  and  the  convention  was  continued  for  three  days, 
Caleb  Keith  and  Mathew  Clark  being  delegates  from  Pelham. 

They  first  "  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  is  Constitutional.  "  The 
further  action  of  the  convention  is  given  with  list  of  grievances. 

"  The  Convention  from  a  thorough  conviction  of  great  uneasiness, 
subsisting  among  the  people  of  this  county  and  Commonwealth, 
then  went  into  an  inquiry  for  the  cause  ;  and  upon  mature  consider- 
ation, deliberation  and  debate,  were  of  the  opinion  that  many  griev- 
ances and  unnecessary  burdens  now  lying  upon  the  people,  are  the 
sources  of  that  discontent  so  evidently  discoverable  throughout  this 
Commonwealth.  Among  which  the  following  articles  were  voted  as 
such  : 

"  ist.     The  existence  of  the  Senate. 

2nd.     The  present  mode  of  representation. 

3rd.  The  officers  of  Government  not  being  annually  dependant  on  the 
representatives  of  the  people,  in  General  Court  assembled,  for  their  saleries. 

4th.  All  the  Civil  Officers  of  Government,  not  being  annually  elected  by 
the  people  in  General  Court  assembled. 


368  HISTORY    OF    PELHAiM,    MASS. 

Stb.  The  existence  of  tlie  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  General  Sessions 
of  the  Peace. 

6th.     The  Fee  Table  as  it  now  stands. 

7th.     The  present  mode  of  Appropriating  the  import  and  exci.se. 

8th.  The  unreasonable  grants  made  to  .some  of  the  officers  of  the  Gov- 
ernment. 

9th.     The  Supplementary  Aid. 

loth.     The  present  mode  of  paying  government  securities. 

nth.  The  present  mode  adopted  for  the  payment  and  speedy  collection 
of  the  last  state  tax. 

12th.  The  present  mode  of  taxation  as  it  operates  unequally  between 
the  polls  and  estates  and  between  landed  and  mercantile  interests. 

13th.     The  present  method  of  the  practice  of  attorneys  at  law. 

14th.  The  want  of  a  sufficient  medium  of  trade  to  remedy  the  mischiefs 
arising  from  the  scarcity  of  Money. 

15th.     The  General  Court  sitting  in  the  town  of  Boston. 

i6th.     The  present  embarassments  on  the  press. 

17th.  The  neglect  of  the  settlements  of  important  Matters  depending 
between  the  Commonwealth  and  Congress,  relating  to  Monies  and  Averages. 

i8th.  Voted,  This  convention  recomends  to  the  several  towns  in  this 
County,  that  they  instruct  their  Representatives,  to  use  their  influence  in 
the  next  General  Court,  to  have  emitted  a  bank  of  paper  Money,  subject 
to  a  depreciation  :  making  it  a  tender  in  all  payments,  equal  to  silver  and 
gold  to  be  issued  in  order  to  call  in  the  Commonwealth  secureties. 

19th.  Voted,  That  Whereas  several  of  the  above  articles  of  greivances, 
arise  from  defects  in  the  constitution,  therefore  a  revision  of  the  same  ought 
to  take  place. 

20th.  Voted,  that  it  be  recommended  by  this  convention  to  the  several 
towns  in  this  county  that  they  petition  the  Governor  to  call  the  (leneral 
Court  immediately  together  in  order  that  the  other  grievances  complained 
of  may  by  the  legislature  be  redressed. 

2 1  St.  Voted,  That  this  convention  recommend  it  to  the  inhabitants  of 
this  country,  that  they  abstain  from  all  Mobs  and  unlawful  assemblies, 
until  a  constitutional  method  of  redress  can  be  obtained. 

22nd.  Voted,  That  Mr.  Caleb  West  be  desired  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
proceedings  of  this  convention  to  the  Convention  of  the  County  of 
Worcester. 

23rd.  Voted,  That  the  Chairman  of  this  Convention  be  desired  to  trans- 
mit a  copy  of  the  proceeding  of  this  Convention  to  the  County  of  Berkshire. 

24th.  Voted,  That  the  Chairman  of  this  convention  be  directed  to  notify 
a  County  Convention  upon  any  motion  made  to  him  for  that  purpose  if  he 
judge  the  reasons  offered  be  sufficient,  giving  such  notice,  together  with  the 
rea.sons  thereof  in  the  public  papers  of  this  county. 

25th.  Voted,  that  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention  be  sent 
to  the  press  in  Springfield  for  publication." 

Daniel  Gray  of  Pelhani  was  chairman  of  a  coiumittee  chosen  to 
issue  an  address  to  the  people  for  their  better  understanding   of  the 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  '  369 

causes  or  reasons  for  their  being  under  arms;  they  discharged  the 
obhgation  laid  upon  them  with  zeal  and  earnestness,  and  though 
mistaken  as  to  the  means  chosen  to  correct  the  evils  complained  of, 
we  believe  there  was  a  large  measure  of  honesty  in  the  mass  of  the 
insurgent  forces  under  arms,  and  that  Daniel  Gray  believed  he  was 
serving  in  a  righteous  cause. 

"  An  address  to  the  people  of  the  several  Towns  in  the  County  of 
Hampshire,  now  at  arms.  Gentlemen  We  have  thought  proper  to 
inform  you  of  some  of  the  principel  causes  of  the  late  risings  of  the 
people.  Also  of  their  present  movements  Viz  : 

ist.  The  present  expensive  mode  of  collecting  debts,  which,  by  reason 
of  the  g:reat  scarcity  of  cash,  will  of  necessity  fill  our  goals  with  unhappy 
debtors,  and  thereby  a  reputable  body  of  people  rendered  incapable  of  being 
serviceable  either  to  themselves  or  to  the  community. 

2d.  The  Monies  raised  by  imports  and  excise  being  appropriated  to  dis- 
charge the  interest  of  the  government  securities,  and  not  the  foreign  debt, 
when  these  securities  are  not  subject  to  taxation. 

3d.  A  suspension  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  by  which  those  persons 
who  have  stepped  forth  to  assert  and  maintain  the  rights  of  the  people,  are 
liable  to  be  taken  and  conveyed  even  to  the  most  distant  part  of  the  Com- 
monwealth, and  thereby  subjected  to  an  unjust  punishment. 

4th.  The  unlimited  power  granted  to  justices  of  the  Peace  and  Sheriffs 
and  Constables,  by  the  Riot  Act,  indemnifying  them  to  the  prosecution 
thereof;  when  perhaps,  wholly  actuated  from  a  principle  of  revenge,  hatred 
and  envy. 

Furthermore, — Be  assured,  that  this  body,  now  at  arms,  dispise  the  idea 
of  being  instigated  by  British  Emessaries,  which  is  so  strenuously  propa- 
gated by  the  enemies  of  our  liberties  :  And  also  wish  the  most  proper  and 
speedy  measures  may  be  taken,  to  discharge  both  our  foreign  and  domestic 
debt.  Per  Order,  Daniel  Gray, 

Chairman  of  Committee  for  the  above  purpose. 

Thomas  Grover  of  \\'orcester,  an  insurgent  leader  took  upon  him- 
self the  liberty  to  fulminate  his  individual  ideas  of  some  of  the  griev- 
ances the  people  were  suffering  under  in  the  Hampshire  Hcrald\ 

"To  the  Printer  of  the  Hampshire  Herald:  Sir.  It  has  somehow  or 
other  fallen  to  my  lot  to  be  employed  in  a  more  conspicuous  manner  than 
some  of  my  fellow  citizens  in  stepping  forth  in  defence  of  the  rights  and 
privileges  of  the  people,  more  especially  of  the  County  of  Hampshire. 

Therefore,  upon  the  desire  of  the  people  now  at  arms,  I  take  this  method 
to  publish  to  the  world  of  mankind  in  general,  particularly  the  people  of  this 
Commonwealth,  some  of  the  principal  grievances  we  complain  of  and  of 
which  we  are  now  seeking  redress,  and  mean  to  contend  for,  until  a  redress 
can  be  obtained,  which  we  hope,  will  soon  take  place ;  and  if  so,  our  brethren 


370  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

in  this  Commonwealth,  that  do  not  see  with  us  yet,  shall  find  we  shall  be  as 
peaceable  as  they  be. 

In  the  first  place,  I  must  refer  you  to  a  draft  of  Grievances  drawn  up  by  a 
committee  of  the  people,  now  at  arms  under  the  signature  of  Daniel  Gray, 
Chairman,  which  is  heartily  approved  of:  some  others  also  are  here  added, 
viz.: 

ist.  The  General  Court,  for  certain  obvious  reasons,  must  be  removed 
out  of  the  town  of  Boston. 

2d.     A  revision  of  the  Constitution  is  absolutely  necessary. 

3d.  All  kinds  of  government  securities  now  on  interest,  that  have  been 
bought  of  the  original  owners  for  two  shillings,  three  shillings,  four  shilling, 
and  the  highest  for  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  on  the  pound,  and  have 
received  more  interest  than  the  principal  cost  the  speculator  who  pur- 
chased them,- — that  if  justice  was  done,  we  verily  believe,  nay  positively 
know,  it  would  save  the  Commonwealth  thousands  of  pounds. 

4th.  Let  the  lands  belonging  to  this  Commonwealth,  at  the  eastward,  be 
sold  at  the  best  advantage,  to  pay  the  remainder  of  our  domestic  debt. 

5th.  Let  the  monies  arising  from  impost  and  excise  be  appropriated  to 
discharge  the  foreign  debt. 

6th.  Let  that  act,  passed  by  the  General  Court  last  June  by  a  small 
majority  of  only  seven,  called  the  Supplementary  Aid,  for  twenty-five  years 
to  come,  be  repealed. 

7th.  The  total  abolition  of  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace. 

8tii.  Deputy  Sheriffs  totally  set  aside,  as  a  useless  set  of  officers  in  the 
Community  :  and  Constables  who  are  really  necessary,  be  empowered  to  do 
the  duty,  by  which  means  a  large  swarm  of  lawyers  will  be  banished  from 
their  wonted  haunts,  who  have  been  more  damage  to  the  people  at  large, 
especially  to  the  common  farmers,  than  the  savage  beasts  of  prey. 

To  this  I  boldly  sign  my  proper  name,  as  a  hearty  well  wisher  to  the  real 
rights  of  the  people.  Thomas  Gkovi:r. 

Worcester,  Dec.  7,  1786." 

Possibly  Grover  issued  his  manifesto  from  Worcester,  but  at  other 
times  his  name  appears  as  Capt.  Thomas  Grover  of  Montague. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  prevailing  discontent,  the  calling  of 
conventions,  and  the  formulation  of  a  long  list  of  grievances  and  the 
resort  to  arms,  may  need  further  explanation  for  the  better  under- 
standing of  the  disturbed  condition  of  the  people  112  years  ago,  by 
those  who  may  read  this  portion  of  the  history  of  Pelham. 

Causes  or  Reasons  Which  Led   to  Rebellion. 

The  War  of  the  Revolution  had  been  ended  but  a  few  years.  It 
had  been  an  expensive  war.  The  state  debt  was  ^1,300,000  besides 
;^25o,ooo   due  to  officers  and  soldiers.     The  .state's  portion  of  the 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  37 1 

Federal  debt  was  ^1,500,000.  Every  town  was  more  or  less  embar- 
rassed by  advances  of  money  which  they  had  made  to  equip  the  fre- 
quent requisitions  of  men,  called  for  by  the  state,  and  for  supplies  to 
support  the  army,  which  had  been  done  upon  their  own  particular 
credit. 

This  burden  of  debt  was  enormous  as  compared  with  that  before 
the  war, — when  it  was  less  than  ;^i 00,000. 

Tax  payers  now  will  appreciate  the  burdens  laid  upon  the  people  at 
that  time,  when  they  know  that  the  third  part  of  all  sums  raised  by 
taxation  was  laid  upon  the  rateable  polls  alone,  and  the  rateable 
polls  little  exceeded  90,000  in  the  state. 

The  people  had  secured  freedom  from  Great  Brittain,  but  were 
under  grievious  embarrassments  which  pressed  upon  them  sorely. 
For  eight  or  nine  years  they  had  been  fighting  for  liberty  and  now 
they  felt  as  though  they  were  fighting  for  life, — for  mere  existence 
as  it  were.  Upon  the  right  management  of  the  public  debt  depended 
the  tranquility  and  happiness  of  the  people. 

They  were  strongly  prejudiced  against  raising  money  by  duties  of 
impost  and  excise,  for  paying  running  expenses  of  government,  or 
for  paying  public  debts.  It  was  considered  anti-republican  by  the 
leading  men  of  that  day.  The  paper  currency  was  depreciating  day 
by  day  and  it  seemed  an  impossibility  to  save  the  public  credit,  upon 
which  the  happiness  of  the  people  depended. 

The  opposition  of  the  people  to  paying  interest  is  another  thing 
which  astonishes  us  in  these  times  when  interest  paying  by  states, 
counties,  towns  and  individuals  is  so  common.  They  said  it  was  "  a 
cankerwofm  that  consumed  their  substance  without  lessening  their  bur- 
densy  We  should  have  said,  fund  the  debt  and  pay  interest  annually 
and  the  principal  by  installments.  But  the  installment  plan  had  not 
been  invented  at  that  time.  They  wanted  to  pay  the  debt  at  once, 
but  could  not. 

Another  cranky  notion  was  this  :  That  trade, — commerce, — the 
importation  of  goods,  led  to  luxury  and  vice.  The  commercial  men 
said  all  trouble  came  from  the  regulations  under  which  commerce  had 
to  be  carried  on.  To  destroy  commerce  would  not  lessen  the  evils 
complained  of;  and  finally  the  opposition  to  impost  and  excise  duties 
began  to  give  way.  The  export  trade  was  almost  destroyed,  and  if 
goods  were  imported  they  must  be  paid  for  in  specie, — which  tended 
to  drain  the  country  of  ready  money. 


372  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  private,  or  individual  indebtedness  was  large  ;  those  who  had 
been  fighting  for  liberty  came  home  and  found  indebtedness  they 
had  left,  unpaid,  and  more  modern  debts  had  been  added  to  the  old. 
Paper  money  was  of  little  value,  and  specie  was  not  easily  obtained, 
while  creditors  were  pressing  for  payment.  The  Tender  Act  of  July 
3,  17S2,  provided  that  private  debts  might  be  paid  in  neat  cattle  and 
certain  other  personal  property  at  an  appraisement  by  men  under 
oath.  The  law  did  not  satisfy  debtors  or  creditors.  It  had  the 
effect  to  suspend  lawsuits  in  some  cases,  but  also  served  as  the 
signal  for  hostilities  between  creditors  and  debtors  and  really  because 
of  this  law  debtors  thought  their  creditors  were  under  their  control. 

The  pressure  of  creditors  had  made  the  people  irritable  and  tur- 
bulent, and  the  burdensome  taxes  made  the  load  heavier  still ;  and 
there  was  clamor  for  another  issue  of  paper  money  for  relief,  but  it 
was  not  issued. 

The  lawyers  brought  suit  in  the  courts  for  creditors  and  attached 
personal  property  if  it  could  be  found.  If  a  debtor  had  a  stock  of 
cattle  the  sheriff  seized  them  and  drove  them  off  the  farm.  The 
debtor  could  not  offer  a  receiptor  for  the  cattle,  as  now,  until 
trial.  The  effect  of  such  action  being  to  absolutely  block  the  work 
of  the  farm,  and  there  is  little  wonder  that  the  farmers  became  sullen 
and  angry  and  cast  about  for  successful  opposition  to  such  practices. 
That  they  were  in  dead  earnest  to  get  rid  of  lawyers  is  shown  by  the 
foregoing  draft  of  grievances  by  Thomas  Grover  of  Worcester,  which 
doubtless  expressed  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  the  people  toward 
lawyers. 

There  was  great  increase  of  these  suits  for  debt,  pushed  by  lawyers, 
urged  on  by  creditor  clients  anxious  to  realize  on  accounts  long 
overdue.  This  persistence  on  the  part  of  lawyers  caused  the  impecu- 
nious debtors  to  hate  lawyers  without  stint.  Inflamatory  newspaper 
articles  against  lawyers  increased  this  hatred.  The  leading  insur- 
gents insisted  that  "  this  class  of  professional  men  ought  to  be  abol- 
ished." They  instructed  the  representatives  elected  to  the  General 
Court  in  1786  "  to  annihilate  lawyers  "  but  they  failed  to  accomplish 
it.  Perhaps  it  would  have  been  better  for  the  country  if  they  had. 
They  practically  excluded  lawyers  from  the  General  Court  for  the 
session  of  1786,  and  convinced  the  House  that  their  distresses  were 
greatly  increased  by  the  exhorbitant  fees  exacted  by  lawyers  and 
attorneys,   and  passed   a  bill  through  the    House  fixing  the  fees   for 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  373 

attorneys  and  providing  for  their  taking  an  oath  previous  to  pleading, 
in  every  cause,  that  they  would  not  receive  more  than  the  lawful  fees, 
but  it  failed  to  pass  the  Senate. 

The  lawyers  being  odious  to  the  people  the  next  step  was  a  logical 
one ; — the  lawyers  were  intimately  connected  with  the  courts  of  jus- 
tice, and  the  courts  somewhat  under  their  control,  so  the  extension 
of  this  hatred  of  lawyers  so  as  to  include  the  courts  was  a  natural 
one,  so  the  clamor  for  the  abolishment  of  courts  became  loud,  and 
the  purpose  to  stop  the  courts  by  force  of  arms  was  soon  formed,  and 
carried  out  in  many  instances. 

On  the  last  Tuesday  in  August  1786,  only  a  few  days  after  the 
Hatfield  convention  where  they  urged  the  people  to  abstain  from  all 
mobs  and  unlawful  assemblies,  1500  men  under  arms  assembled  in 
Northampton,  took  possession  of  the  court  house  and  effectually 
prevented  the  sitting  of  the  court.  The  next  week  the  court  was 
prevented  from  holding  session  in  the  court  house  at  Worcester  but 
held  court  in  a  private  house.  The  foregoing  brief  explanation  of  the 
reasons  or  causes  which  led  the  people  to  resort  to  arms  for  the 
relief  they  sought  is  perhaps  sufficient,  though  it  may  not  be 
satisfactory  to  those  who  may  read  it. 

Enllstment  and    Organization  ov    the   Insurgents. 

The  massing  of  armed  men  for  raids  upon  the  courts  in  the  shire 
towns  of  the  counties  in  the  state  required  organization  and  some 
sort  of  method  for  securing  and  enlisting  men.  A  meeting  for  the 
consideration  of  this  important  business  was  held,  and  a  committee 
of  seventeen  insurgents  was  appointed  to  raise  and  organize  a  large 
force  of  men  in  Hampshire  county  ;  among  the  members  of  this  com- 
mittee were  Capt.  Shays  of  Pelham  and  Capt.  Billings  of  Amherst. 
The  form  of  enlistment  used  in  recruiting  these  forces  was  as  follows: 

"We  do  Each  one  of  us   acknowledge  our  Selves  to  be  Inlisted   into   a 

Company  Commanded  by  Capt. &  Lieut.  Bullard  &  in  Colo  Hazeltons 

Regiment  of  Regulators  in  Order  for  the  Suppressing  of  tyrannical  govern- 
ment in  the  Massachusetts  State,  And  we  do  Ingage  to  obey  Such  orders  as 
we  shal  Reseeve  from  time  to — to  time  from  our  Superior  ofificers,  and  to 
faithfully  Serve  for  the  term  of  three  months  from  the  Date  in  Witness 
hereof  we  have  hereunto  Set  our  names — the  Conditions  of  Will  Be  for  a 
Sarg' Sixty  ShiUings  ?■•  Month  Cop'  Fifty  Shillings  a  Month  Privet  Forty 
Shillings  a  Month  and  if  git  the  Day  their  will  be  a  Consedrable  Bounty 
Ither  Forty  or  Sixty  Pounds." 


374 


HISIORY    OK     1>KLHA.M,     iMASS. 


The  enrollment  of  men  went  on  under  the  direction  of  the  above 
committee  among  the  restless  and  turbulent  element  until  a  large 
number  of  the  able  bodied  men  in  many  of  the  towns  were  drawn  in, 
and  were  in  arms  against  state  authority  under  local  leaders;  consti- 
tuting a  formidable  insurgent  body  who  were  determined  to  prevent 
the  sitting  of  the  courts,  in  the  belief  that  if  they  could  stop  the  ses- 
sions of  the  courts  they  would  stop  the  entry  and  trial  of  suits  for 
debt  by  impatient  creditors  who  employed  the  lawyers. 

The  insurgents  took  possession  of  court  houses  in  Middlesex 
county  and  at  Worcester,  also  at  Great  Barrington  in  Berkshire. 
They  also  determined  to  prevent  the  sitting  of  the  court  at  Spring- 
field on  the  27th  of  Sept.  1786.  Six  hundred  of  the  state  militia 
under  Gen.  Shepard  were  ordered  to  take  possession  of  the  court 
house  which  they  did.  Capt.  Daniel  Shays  with  more  than  600 
insurgents  appeared  on  the  scene  and  sent  a  request  to  the  judge 
that  none  of  the  late  rioters  who  were  under  arrest  should  be  indicted. 
The  court  did  little  business,  and  after  three  days'  session  adjourned, 
after  resolving  that  it  was  not  expedient  to  proceed  to  Berkshire  for 
a  session  of  the  court  in  October  following. 

In  October,  Capt.  Shays  marched  his  men  through  the  streets  of 
Springfield  in  the  face  of  den.  Shepard's  men,  by  permission  of  the 
General ;  it  is  said  the  one  condition  of  the  permission  was,  that  the 
insurgents  behave  well ;  which  it  is  said  they  did.  There  was  a 
gathering  of  insurgents  at  Great  Barrington  the  same  month  because 
they  feared  that  an  attempt  would  be  made  to  hold  court,  but  there 
was  no  attempt  to  hold  a  session. 

The  legislature  v/hich  was  called  together  on  the  27th  of  Sept. 
1786  had  passed  some  stringent  measures  which  caused  Capt.  Shays 
to  issue  the  following  order  : 

'•PELHA.M,  Oct.  13,  17S6. 

Gentlemen: — By  information  from  the  General  Court  they  are  deter- 
mined to  call  all  those  who  appeared  to  stop  the  court  to  condign  punish- 
ment. Therefore  I  reque'st  you  to  assemble  your  men  together  to  see  that 
tiiey  are  Well  armed  and  equipped  with  sixty  rounds  each  man,  and  be 
ready  to  turn  out  at  a  Minute's  warning;  likewise  be  properly  organized  with 
officers.  J3ANIEL  Shays." 

The  General  Court  adjourned  on  the  iSth  day  of  November,  1786 
after  suspending  the  Habeas  Corpus  act  and  passing  other  acts  that 
it  was  hoped  would  pacify  the  excited  people  of  the  state.  .-\t  that 
time   it  was  estimated  that  one-third  of  the  entire  population  was  in 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  375 

sympathy  with,  or  in  active  action  against  the  constituted  authorities, 
and  in  some  sections  of  the  state  the  proportion  of  insurgents  was 
larger.  On  the  23d  of  November  there  was  a  convention  of  insur- 
gents at  Worcester  after  the  courts  had  been  unable  to  enter  the 
court  house  on  the  21st,  and  obliged  to  hold  court  in  a  tavern. 

Governor  Bowdoin  then  began  to  take  active  measures  for  the 
suppression  of  this  uprising.  The  militia  in  Middlesex  was  called 
out  and  four  regiments  in  Essex.  The  insurgent  leaders  having 
rejected  offers  of  pardon,  warrants  were  issued  for  the  arrest  of  the 
leaders,  and  Parker,  Page,  and  Job  Shattuck,  leaders  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state,  were  arrested  in  Groton. 

Shays  with  the  largest  part  of  the  insurgents  left  Worcester  after 
stopping  the  courts  on  the  21st  and  marched  to  Rutland  where  he 
remained  until  Dec.  3d  when  he  returned  to  Worcester,  but  marched 
back  to  Rutland  again  on  the  9th  of  the  same  month  where  he 
remained  for  some  time,  some  of  his  men  freezing  to  death  on  the 
march.  There  was  a  great  scarcity  of  provisions,  and  'tis  said  that 
Shays  made  known  his  willingness  to  leave  the  people  to  themselves 
and  accept  of  pardon  if  the  Government  would  offer  it. 

Warrants  for    the  Arrest  of  Rebel  Leaders. 

On  the    loth  of  January,  17S7,  Gov.  Bowdoin  issued   Warrants  to 

the  sheriff  of  Hampshire  county  for  the  arrest  of 

Capt.  Asa  Fisk  of  South  Brimfield.  Joseph  Hinds  of  (jreenwich. 

Alpheus  Colton  of  Longmeadow.  Capt.  Joel  Billings  of  Amherst. 

Luke  Day  of  West  Springfield.  Obed  Foot  of  Greenfiekl. 

Capt.  Gad  Sacket  of  Westfield.  Capt.  Abel  Dinsmore  of  Conway. 

Capt.  Aaron  Jewett  of  Chesterfield.  Capt.  Matliew  Clark  of  Colrain.' 

Capt.  John  Brown  of  Whately.  Samuel  Hill  of  Charlemont. 

Samuel  Morse  of  Worthington.  Capt.  Thomas  Grover  of  Montague. 

Capt.  Daniel  Shays  of  Pelham.  John  Powers  of  Shutcshury. 

These  men  were  the  leaders  of  the  insurgents  in  Western  Mass.  of 
whom  the  governor  wrote  the  sheriff  as  follows  :  '•  That  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  above  named  persons  is  dangerous  to  the  Common- 
wealth, its  peace  and  safety."  Sheriff"  Klisha  Porter  reported  to  the 
governor: — "  IJay,  Colton,  Clark  and  Brown,  jailed, — the  others  not 
found." 

Gov.  Bowdoin  found  that  calling  out  a  few  men  here  and  there 
was  having  no  good  effect  in  quelling  these  rebellious  citizens  and 
by  the  advice  of  the  Council  4400  men  were  called  out,  700  of  them 
from    Suffolk,    500   from    Essex.    800   from  Middlesex,     1200    from 


,376  HISTORY    OK    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Hampshire  and   1200  from  Worcester  counties,  with  two  companies 

■  of  artillery,  detached  from  Suffolk  and  two  from  Middlesex.  The 
troops  from  Suffolk,  Essex  and  Middlesex  were  ordered  to  gather 
near  Boston  on  the  19th  of  January,  1787.  Those  from  Hampshire 
county  at  Springfield  on  the  iSth.  Troops  from  Worcester  to  join 
those  of  the  eastern  counties  at  Worcester.  All  were  raised  for 
thirty  days'  service,  unless  sooner  discharged.  Major-Gen.  Benjamin 
Lincoln  was  placed  in  command. 

The  state  treasury  was  so  low  at  that  time  that  there  was  not 
money  enough  to  place  the  troops  in  the  field  and  private  citizens 
furnished  the  money  to  do  it.  Gov.  Bowdoin  issued  his  orders  to 
Gen.  Lincoln  to  take  command  and  protect  the  courts,  to  apprehend 
all  hostile  persons,  etc., — and  closed  with  this  paragraph  : 

"  On  these  attempts  to  restore  system  and  order  I  wish  the  smiles  of 
"heaven,  and  that  you  may  have  an  agreeable  command,  the  most  perfect 
success,  and  a  speedy  and  safe  return;  I  am  with  much  esteem,  sir,  your 
most  obedient  servant,  James  Bowdoin. 

Hox.  Major  Gen.  Lincoln." 

The  Rebels  March  Toward  Sprinofield. 

Capt.  Shays  and  his  insurgent  forces  had  withdrawn  from  Worces- 
ter toward  the  western  part  of  the  state.  Gen.  Lincoln  arrived  at 
Worcester  on  the  2 2d  of  January.  The  court  was  to  sit  on  the  23d, 
.and  it  did  without  any  trouble.  Gen.  Lincoln  and  his  army  pre- 
vented any  outbreak. 

Gen.  Shepard  was  in  command  of  11 00  men  from  Hampshire 
county  guarding  the  arsenal  and  stores  at  Springfield  and  the  insur- 
gents under  ("apt.  Shays  and  others  were  concentrating  there  for  an 
attack.  Luke  Day  had  400  men  at  West  Springfield.  Shays  with 
1 100  men  was  on  the  Boston  road  while  Eli  Parsons  was  at  Spring- 
field, North  Parish  (Chicopee)  with  400  more.  Most  of  these  men 
were  old  Continental  soldiers. 

Shays  informed  Day  that  he  proposed  to  attack  the  post  at  Spring- 
field on  the   25th,   which  was  the  next    day.      Day    replied   that   he 

■  could  not  assist  on  the  25th,  but  would  be  ready  on  the  26th.  but 
his  letter  was  intercepted  by  Gen.  Shepard.  Shays  thinking  it  was 
all  right  marched  his  forces  from  Wilbraham  to  the  attack.  Day  in 
the  meantime  had  sent  a  preemptory  demand  to  Gen.  Shepard  that 
the  troops  under  his  command  be  surrendered  to  him,  but  it  did  not 
iterrify  the  General  as  Day  perhaps  hoped  it  might. 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  377 

Gen.  Lincoln  was  two  days'  march  from  Springfield,  but  hurrying 
forward  through  the  deep  snow.  With  more  insurgent  troops  near  him 
than  he  had  militia,  Gen.  Shepard  discovered  Capt.  Shays  and  his 
forces  approaching  from  the  Boston  road  about  4  p.  m.  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  25th  of  January,  moving  toward  the  arsenal  which  he  had 
been  ordered  to  defend.  The  General  sent  an  aid  accompanied  by  two- 
citizens  to  Shays,  several  times,  to  ask  what  the  latter's  intentions 
were  and  to  warn  him  of  danger.  Shays  was  informed  that  the 
militia  was  posted  there  by  order  of  the  Governor,  and  of  Congress 
and  if  he  should  advance  further  the  militia  would  certainly  fire  upon 
his  men.  Shays  declared  that  he  would  have  possession  of  the  bar- 
racks, "  Barracks  I  will  have  and  stores,"  and  marched  to  within 
250  yards,  when  Gen.  Shepard  ordered  his  men  to  fire  the  cannon; 
but  the  first  two  shots  were  fired  over  the  heads  of  Shays  and  his 
men,  who  continued  to  march  upon  the  arsenal.  The  third  shot  was 
aimed  at  the  center  of  the  advancing  column  and  fired  with  deadly 
effect. 

There  was  a  cry  of  "murder,"  and  old  soldiers  though  they  were, 
the  whole  body  of  men  were  thrown  into  confusion.  Shays  tried  to 
rally  his  men  but  could  not,  and  his  whole  force  was  soon  in  full 
retreat  in  the  direction  of  Ludlow,  leaving  three  dead  and  one 
wounded  upon  the  field.  Shays  joined  forces  with  Eli  Parsons  at 
Chicopee  on  the  next  day  but  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Lincoln  on  the  27th 
prevented  another  attack  by  the  Shays  men. 

Gen.  Lincoln  had  four  regiments,  three  companies  of  artillery, 
and  one  company  of  horse  or  cavalry  as  they  would  be  called  now. 
At  3-30  the  same  day.  Gen.  Lincoln  crossed  the  Connecticut  river  on 
the  ice  after  Day  and  his  men,  but  they  fled  in  confusion  and  spent 
the  night  on  the  march  to  Northampton.  On  the  28th,  Gen.  Lincoln 
began  the  march  after  Shays  who  had  retreated  through  South 
Hadley  towards  Amherst.  The  pursuit  of  Shays  and  his  followers 
began  at  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  28th,  and  Gen.  Lincoln 
pushed  along  as  fast  as  the  drifted  snow  would  permit.  Capt. 
Shays  had  a  pretty  good  lead  and  kept  out  of  the  way  of  his  pursuers, 
arriving  in  Amherst  quite  a  little  in  advance  of  Gen.  Lincoln,  but 
knowing   he  was   not  far  behind,  pushed  on  toward  Pelham. 

A  short  time  after  the  Shays  men  had  gone  from  Amherst,  ten 
sleigh  loads  of  provisions  from  Berkshire  came  to  East  Amherst  and 
stopped  to  feed  their  horses  at  the  tavern  kept    by  Oliver    Clapp., 


37^  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Landlord  Clapp  knew  that  Gen.  Lincoln  was  in  pursuit  of  Shays  and 
his  men  and  that  the  men  were  about  famished.  He  told  the  men 
in  charge  of  the  provisions  not  to  think  of  stopping  to  feed  the  horses, 
but  to  push  on  towards  Pelham  before  they  were  gobbled  up  by  Lin- 
coln. The  teams  hurried  on  after  Shays  and  the  famished  men  got 
the  provisions  which  they  would  have  failed  to  receive,  had  not 
Landlord  Clapp,  who  was  a  personal  friend  of  Shays,  hurried  up  the 
teams.  Gen.  Lincoln  and  his  army  arrived  in  Amherst  and  on 
being  informed  of  the  passing  of  Shays  and  his  men  towards  Pelham, 
decided  not  to  pursue  them  further  that  day. 

The  people  who  were  in  the  farm  houses  along  the  road  from 
Amherst  to  Pelham,  West  Hill,  consisting  mostly  of  women  and 
children,  saw  a  very  strange  and  unusual  sight  as  they  looked  out  to 
the  west  along  the  deeply  drifted  snow-covered  highway  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  28th  of  January,  1787.  Straggling  along  the  untrod 
road,  they  saw  1100  armed  men,  foot-sore  and  weary,  toiling  slowly 
along  up  the  hills  after  their  long  march  from  Springfield.  No  such 
sight  had  they  ever  seen  before,  and  never  since  that  day  has  so 
large  a  body  of  armed  men  been  seen  in  the  town. 

Captain  Shays  they  knew,  and  their  husbands  and  sons  and 
brothers  also,  but  the  men  from  Middlesex,  Worcester  and  Berkshire 
counties  they  did  not  know.  The  travel-worn  army  of  rebels  was 
halted  on  the  common  in  front  of  the  old  meeting  house.  A  portion 
of  the  men  camped  as  comfortably  as  it  was  possible  with  the  great 
lack  of  tents  or  camp  equipage,  and  the  other  half,  with  the  rebel 
captain  moved  on  through  the  snow  of  that  old  fashioned  winter 
down  the  slope  to  the  "Hollow"  where  the  old  Conkey  tavern  was 
located,  and  then  up  to  the  summit  of  Pelham,  East  Hill,  where  they 
camped,  Capt.  Shays  making  himself  comfortable  at  the  old  tavern 
he  knew  so  well.  That  11 00  men  could  be  maintained  in  any  sort 
of  comfort  on  these  bleak  hills  in  the  dead  of  winter  would  seem 
almost  impossible  to  anyone  who  will  visit  them  any  year  in  January  ; 
but  they  were  quartered  on  these  hills  from  Jan.  28  to  Feb.  3  and 
none  were  frozen  so  far  is  known.  Doubtless  the  ten  sleigh  loads 
of  provisions,  which  Landlord  Clapp  hurried  along  after  Capt.  Shays' 
rebel  army,  helped  to  make  their  stay  in  Pelham  more  agreeable 
than  it  otherwise  would  have  been. 

General  Lincoln  made  an  examination  of  the  houses  at  Amherst 
and  discovered    that    they    contained  mostly    women   and    children, 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  379 

most  of  the  men  being  with  the  insurgents  under  Shays.  He  also 
learned  about  the  ten  sleigh  loads  of  provisions  which  had  gone  for- 
ward. He  then  forbade  the  remaining  inhabitants  from  furnishing 
any  supplies  to  the  insurgents ;  and  pushed  on  to  Hadley  where  he 
might  find  cover  for  his  weary  troops. 

As  we  have  already  said  the  Shays  men  were  quartered  in  some 
sort  of  comfort  on  these  two  hills  in  Pellham  and  Capt.  Shays  was 
at  his  old  headquarters  at  Landlord  Conkey's  tavern  in  the  great 
hollow  between  the  east  and  west  hills.  Gen.  Lincoln  was  at  Hadley 
ten  to  twelve  miles  west  of  Pelham,  with  his  forces  and  from  his  head- 
quarters sent  the  following  letter  to  Captain  Shays  on  the  30th  of 
January,  1787. 

"Whether  you  are  convinced  or  not  of  your  error  in  flying  to  arms,  I  am 
fully  pursuaded  that  before  this  hour,  you  must  have  the  fullest  conviction 
upon  your  mind  that  you  are  not  able  to  execute  your  original  purposes. 

Your  resources  are  few,  your  force  is  inconsiderable,  and  hourly  decreas- 
ing from  the  disaffection  of  your  men  ;  you  are  in  a  post  where  you  have 
neither  cover  nor  supplies,  and  in  a  situation  in  which  you  can  neither  give 
aid  to  your  friends  nor  discomfort  to  the  supporters  of  good  order  and  gov- 
ernment. Under  these  circumstances  you  cannot  hesitate  a  moment  to  dis- 
band your  deluded  followers.  If  you  should  not,  I  must  approach,  and 
apprehend  the  most  influential  characters  among  you. 

Should  you  attempt  to  fire  upon  the  troops  of  the  government,  the  conse- 
quences must  be  fatal  to  many  of  your  men,  the  least  guilty.  To  prevent 
bloodshed,  you  will  communicate  to  your  privates,  that  if  they  will  instantly 
lay  down  their  arms,  surrender  themselves  to  government,  and  take  and  sub- 
scribe the  oath  of  allegience  to  this  Commonwealth,  they  shall  be  recom- 
mended for  mercy.  If  you  should  either  withhold  this  information  from 
them,  or  suffer  your  people  to  fire  upon  our  approach,  you  must  be  answer- 
able for  all  the  ills  which  may  exist  in  consequence  thereof." 

To  this  letter  General  Lincoln  received  the  following  reply: 

"  Pelham,  January  30TH,  1787. 

To  General  Lincoln,  Commaxding  the  Government  Troops  at 
Hadley,  S/r.— The  people  assembled  in  arms  from  the  counties  of  Middle- 
sex, Worcester,  Hampshire  and  Berkshire,  taking  into  serious  consideration 
the  purport  of  the  flag  just  received,  return  for  answer,  that  however  unjust- 
ifiable the  measures  may  be  which  the  people  have  adopted,  in  having 
recourse  to  arms,  various  circumstances  have  induced  them  thereto. 

We  are  sensible  of  the  embarrassments  the  people  aie  under;  but  that 
virtue  which  truly  characterizes  the  citizens  of  a  republican  government, 
hath  hitherto  marked  our  paths  with  a  degree  of  innocence  ;  and  we  wish 
and  trust  it  will  still  be  the  case.  At  the  same  time,  the  people  are  willing 
to  lay  down  their  arms,  on  the  condition  of  a  general  pardon,  and  return  to 


380  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

their  respective  homes,  as  they  are  unwilling  to  stain  the  land,  which  we  in 
the  late  war  purchased  at  so  dear  a  rate,  with  the  blood  of  our  brethren  and 
neighbors. 

Therefore,  we  pray  that  hostilities  may  cease,  on  your  part,  until  our 
united  prayers  may  be  presented  to  the  General  Court,  and  we  receive  an 
answer,  as  a  person  is  gone  for  that  purpose.  If  this  request  may  be  com- 
piled with,  government  shall  meet  with  no  interruption  from  the  people; 
but  let  each  army  occupy  the  post  where  they  now  are. 

Daniel  Shays,  Captain." 
On  the  following   day  three  of  the  insurgents  from  the  camp  at 
Pelham  appeared  at  General  Lincoln's  headquarters  at  Hadley  with 
the  following  communination  : 

The  HoNOKAi'.LE  General  Lincoln,  Sir. — As  the  officers  of  the  people 
now  convened  in  defence  of  their  rights  and  privileges,  have  sent  a  petition 
to  the  General  Court,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  accommodating  our  present 
unhappy  affairs,  we  justly  expect  that  hostilities  may  cease  on  both  sides, 
until  we  have  a  return  from  our  legislature.  Your  Honour  will  therefore  be 
pleased  to  give  us  an  answer. 

Per  order  of  the  committee  for  recconcilliation, 

Francis  Stone,  Chairman, 
Daniel  Shays,  Captain, 
Adam  Wheeler. 
Pelham,  January  31,  1787." 

General  Lincoln  sent  answer  to  the  foregoing  letter  as  follows : 

"  Hadley,  January  31.  17S7. 
Gentlemen. — Your  request  is  totally  inadmissible,  as  no  powers  are  dele- 
gated to  me  which  would  justify  a  delay  of  my  operations.  Hostilities  I 
have  not  commenced.  I  have  again  to  warn  the  people  in  arms  against  the 
government,  immediately  to  disband,  as  they  would  avoid  the  ill  conse- 
quences which  may  ensue,  should  they  be  inattentive  to  this  caution. 

B.  Lincoln. 
To  Francis  Stone,  Daniel  Shays,  Adam  Wheeler." 
It  was  while  this  correspondence  was  going  on  that  the  time  for 
the  assembling  of  the  General  Court  arrived  according  to  adjourn- 
ment, but  owing  to  the  unsettled  state  of  the  people  the  legislators 
did  not  arrive  at  Boston  in  sufficient  numbers  until  the  3d  of  Febru- 
ary. On  the  4th  a  declaration  of  rebellion  was  passed  by  the  Senate 
and  concurred  in  by  the  House.  When  General  Shepard  and  Gen- 
eral Lincoln  dispersed  the  rebels  at  Springfield  the  latter  discharged 
2000  militia  becau.^ed  he  believed  they  would  not  be  wanted,  but  when 
Captain  Shays  posted  his  men  at  Pelham,  the  rebellion  began  to 
assume  more  importance,  and  Governor  Bowdoin  issued  orders  for 
2600  of  the  militia  in  the  middle  counties  to  take  the  field. 


THE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  381 

The  petition,  which  Shays  and  his  associates  of  the  committee  of 
reconcilliation  referred  to  as  having  been  sent  to  the  General  Court, 
reached  Boston  and  was  duly  presented  to  the  honorable  body.  It 
was  in  language  as  follows  : 

"Petition  of  the  Officers  of  the  Counties  of  Worcester,  Hamp- 
shire, Middlesex  and  Berkshire  Now  at  Arms. 
Humbly  Sheweth  : — That  your  petitioners  being  sensible  that  we  have 
been  in  error,  in  having  recourse  to  arms,  and  not  seeking  redress  in  a  Con- 
stitutional way ;  we  therefore  heartily  pray  your  honours,  to  overlook  our 
failing,  in  respect  to  our  rising  in  Arms,  as  your  honors  must  be  sensible  we 
had  great  cause  of  uneasiness,  as  will  appear  by  your  redressing  many 
grievances,  the  last  session;  yet  we  declare,  that  it  is  our  hearts  desire,  that 
good  government  may  be  kept  in  a  constitutional  way ;  and  as  it  appears  to 
us,  that  the  time  is  near  approaching,  when  much  human  blood  will  be  spilt, 
unless  a  recconcilliation  can  immediately  take  place,  which  scene  strikes 
us  with  horror,  let  the  foundation  cause  be  what  it  may. 

We  therefore  solemnly  promise,  that  we  will  lay  down  our  arms,  and  repair 
to  our  respective  homes,  in  a  peaceable  and  quiet  manner;  and  so  remain, 
provided  your  honours  will  grant  to  your  petitioners,  and  all  those  our  breth- 
ren who  have  recouse  to  arms,  or  otherwise  aided  or  assisted  our  cause,  a 
general  pardon  for  their  past  offences.  All  of  which  we  humbly  submit  to 
the  wisdom,  candour  and  benevolence  of  your  honours,  as  we  in  duty  bound 
shall  ever  pray.  Francis  Stone, 

Chairman  of  the  Committee  for  the  above  Counties. 
Read  and  accepted  by  the  Officers.  Pelham,  January  30,  1787." 

The  General  Court  took  the  petition  in  hand  and  at  once  "  Voted 
that  the  said  paper  cannot  be  sustained,"  and  gave  seven  distinct 
reasons  for  their  action,  a  few  of  them  we  copy.  "  First,  because 
those  concerned  therein  openly  avow  themselves  in  arms,  and  in  a 
state  of  hostility  against  the  government,  and  for  this  reason  alone, 
the  said  paper  would  be  unsustainable,  even  if  the  tenor  of  the  appli- 
cation had  discovered  a  spirit  suitable  to  the  object  of  it.  Fourthly, 
The  said  applicants  appear  to  view  themselves  on  equal,  if  not  better 
standing  than  the  legislature,  by  proposing  '  a  reconcilliation.' 
Fifthly,  They  appear  to  threaten  the  authority  and  Government  of 
the  Commonwealth,  with  great  effusion  of  blood,  unless  this  'recon- 
cilliation can  immediately  take  place.'" 

In  a  letter  written  by  General  Lincoln  to  Governor  Bowdoin  dated 
at  Hadley,  Feb.  i,  1787,  he  says: 

"  I  have  just  been  honored  with  the  receipt  of  your  Excellency's  favor  of 
the  25  ult.  *  *  *  I  wait  with  a  degree  of  impatience  for  such  weather  as  will 
26 


382  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

permit  my  reconnoitering  Shays'  post,  which  as  I  have  advised  you  before 
is  a  very  strong  one.  Every  exertion  will  be  made  to  bring  this  matter  to  a 
happy  close.  R.  Lincoln." 

It  is  probably  true  that  there  was  a  reconnoisance  of  Capt.  Shays' 
position  by  order  of  Gen.  Lincoln  and  it  doubtless  caused  the  rebel 
leader  to  set  his  forces  in  motion  towards  Petersham. 

The  terse  answer  of  General  Lincoln  Jan.  31,  1787,  did  not  satisfy 
the  committee  of  insurgents  of  which  Capt.  Shays  was  one,  and  a 
private  conference  was  sought  by  one  of  the  leading  rebels  to  further 
consider  the  subject  of  promise  of  pardon.  It  was  granted  and  the 
conference  was  held  at  Hadley,  Feb.  3,  1787,  the  day  the  General 
Court  assembled.  While  the  conference  was  in  session  Capt.  Shays, 
who  seems  to  have  forgotten  the  petition  that  had  been  sent  to  the 
legislature,  concluded  not  to  wait  for  the  result  of  the  conference,  at 
Hadley,  but  while  it  was  going  on  the  wily  Captain  started  his  men 
on  the  march  across  the  hills  and  through  the  valleys  towards 
Petersham. 

Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds  kept  a  tavern  at  that  time  on  Pelham  East 
Hill,  where  a  part  of  Capt.  Shays'  men  were  gathered  while  in  Pelham. 
It  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Congregational  parsonage  in  Pres- 
cott,  and  Landlord  Hinds  had  for  a  sign  the  painting  of  a  horse  held 
by  a  groom.  The  board  on  which  this  sign  was  painted  was  hung 
on  a  post  or  pole  set  in  a  solid  rock  in  front  of  the  tavern.  The 
tavern  and  the  sign  are  gone  but  the  rock  with  the  hole  six  inches  in 
diameter  and  about  two  feet  deep  remains.  The  rains  in  summer 
keep  the  hole  filled  with  water  and  the  children  of  all  generations 
from  1787  to  this  day  have  made  mud  pies  on  that  rock. 

It  was  by  this  rock  with  the  tavern  sign  above  it  that  Capt.  Shays 
is  said  to  have  treated  his  men,  (probably  the  officers  of  his  insurgent 
force)  as  they  were  leaving  the  town  by  the  snowy  highway,  contin- 
uing their  flight  from  the  larger  and  stronger  body  of  State  Militia 
under  General  Lincoln  encamped  at  Hadley,  that  Capt.  Shays  knew^ 
would  continue  the  pursuit  just  as  soon  as  General  Lincoln  became 
aware  that  the  private  conference  was  sought  only  for  the  purpose 
of  gaining  time,  and  the  General  should  learn  of  his  leaving  Pelham. 

This  march  of  the  rebels  to  Petersham  was  the  last  move  in  any 
considerable  numbers  of  the  insurgent  forces.  There  was  trouble 
from  small  bodies  of  rebels  afterwards  for  some  time  in  various 
parts  of  the  state,  but  it  is  not  thought  best  to  follow  up  this  sort 
of  guerrilla  war  that  was  kept  up  for  several  months. 


IHE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  383 

The  march  of  General  Lincohi's  army  from  Hadley  to  Petersham, 
as  given  in  Minot's  Histoiy  of  the  insurrection  : 

"  Information  that  Shays  had  put  his  forces  in  motion  and  left  Pel- 
ham  was  carried  to  Gen.  Lincoln  at  Hadley  at  noon  of  the  same  day 
(Feb.  3.  1787)  but  it  was  first  thought  that  he  had  only  marched  the 
men  on  the  West  Hill  to  join  those  on  the  East  Hill  of  Pelham. 

Gen.  Lincoln  issued  orders  to  his  army  to  be  ready  to  march  at  a 
moments  notice  and  to  have  three  days  provisions  ready.  At  6 
o'clock  that  day  news  came  that  Shays  had  really  left  his  position  at 
Pelham  and  gone  eastward.  In  two  hours  from  the  time  or  at  eight 
o'clock  in  that  winter  night  Lincoln  and  his  army  were  on  the  march 
after  the  rebels.  Through  Amherst,  Shutesbury  and  New  Salem 
they  marched  as  fast  as  the  deep  snows  would  permit,  hour  after 
hour  without  any  unusual  incident  of  note  save  the  bitter  cold.  At 
two  o'clock  in  morning  they  were  in  New  Salem.  lly  this  time  a 
violent  snow  storm  had  begun,  accompanied  by  a  fierce  north  wind, 
which  sharpened  the  cold  to  an  extreme  degree.  The  route  lay  across 
high  lands,  and  the  falling  snow  filled  the  road.  The  soldiers  were 
exposed  to  the  full  effect  of  these  circumstances,  and  the  country  being 
thinly  settled  did  not  afford  a  covering  for  them  within  the  distance 
of  eight  miles.  Being  thus  deprived  of  shelter  by  want  of  buildings, 
and  of  refreshment  by  the  intenseness  of  the  cold,  which  prevented 
their  taking  any  in  the  road,  their  only  safety  lay  in  closely  pursuing 
a  march,  which  was  to  terminate  at  the  quarters  of  the  enemy.  They 
therefore  advanced  the  whole  distance  of  thirty  miles  subject  to  all 
these  inclemencies  without  halting  for  any  length  of  time.  Their 
front  reached  Petersham  by  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  (Feb.  4) 
their  rear  being  five  miles  distant." 

Shays  and  his  men  had  been  comfortably  housed  during  the  cold 
and  storm,  while  Lincoln  and  his  army  were  greatly  worn  by  the 
fatigue  of  the  march  and  suffering  from  the  intense  cold.  It  would 
seem  that  Shays  had  the  advantage,  but  he  did  not  seem  to  know  it,  or 
Gen.  Lincoln  didn't  give  him  an  opportunity  to  use  it,  for  the  latter 
advanced  into  the  town  with  some  artillery  in  front.  Shays  was 
taken  by  surprise,— he  had  not  the  least  suspicion  that  any  danger 
of  attack  was  possible  ;  and  in  his  fear  the  only  thought  seemed  to 
be  his  own  personal  safety,  and  he  and  his  men  immediately  evac- 
uated the  houses  where  they  had  been  quartered  and  thronging  into 
a  back  road,  fled  towards  Athol,  without  scarcely  stopping  to  fire  a 


384  HISTORY    OK     I'Kl.HA.M,     MASS. 

gun.  Many  of  the  privates  retired  to  their  own  homes, — others 
including  officers  fled  to  Vermont,   New  Hampshire  and   New  York. 

After  the  breaking  up  the  main  body  of  the  rebels  under  ("apt. 
Shays  at  Petersham,  Gen.  Lincoln  marched  his  forces  back  to  the 
Western  part  of  the  state  to  look  after  and  disperse  other  small  bands 
that  still  kept  up  a  noisy  but  not  a  very  dangerous  campaign. 

As  some  may  ask  whether  any  of  these  rebels  were  ever  punished, 
it  may  be  best  to  say  right  here  that  the  state  government  had  no 
desire  to  execute  the  extreme  penalties  of  the  law  against  these  rebels, 
but  they  wished  to  show  that  it  was  dangerous  business  to  rebel. 
A  commission  was  appointed  consisting  of  Gen.  B.  Lincoln,  Hon. 
Samuel  Phillips  and  Hon.  Samuel  Allen  Otis  for  granting  indemnity 
to  some  persons  concerned  in  rebellion,  and  790  persons  came  under 
its  benefits,  of  whom  1 2  were  convicted  of  treason  in  the  western 
part  of  the  state  and  sentenced  to  death.  Seven  or  eight  of  these 
were  extended  a  free  pardon  by  the  governor  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1787,  and  a  reprieve  granted  to  the  others  on  the  21st  of  June  follow- 
ing, but  the  sheriff  of  Hampshire  Co.,  was  directed  not  to  open  his 
orders  until  the  criminals  had  arrived  at  the  gallows  and  all 
arrangements  for  the  execution  attended  to.  Among  these  was  one 
man  from  Pelham  and  his  name  was  Henry  McCulloch. 

A  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  was  arrested  by  a  state 
warrant  for  sedition  and  sentenced  to  sit  upon  the  gallows  for  a 
time,  to  pay  a  fine  of  ;^5o  and  give  bonds  to  keep  the  peace  for  five 
years  and  the  sentence  was  executed. 

Those  who  had  been  guilty  of  favoring  the  rebellion  were  exclu- 
ded from  the  jury  box  for  three  years.  Unless  they  could  get  a  vote 
of  the  town  to  restore  them.  Li  some  towns  there  were  hardly  men 
enough  in  town  not  tinctured  with  rebellious  sentiments  for  town 
officers,  and  all  town  officers  were  required  to  take  and  subscribe  to 
the  oath  of  allegiance  for  some  years. 

Shays  and  Parsons  and  others  of  the  leaders  sued  for  pardon  in 
February  1788  and  it  was  granted  to  Shays  in  the  following  June. 

Although  Capt.  Daniel  Shays  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the 
insurrection,  and  the  disturbance  received  its  name  as  the  Shays  rebel- 
lion from  the  fact  of  his  leadership,  he  escaped  the  notoriety  of  being 
sentenced  to  death  for  his  crime  against  the  state,  and  the  honor  or 
disgrace  fell  upon  Henry  McCulloch,  being  the  only  man  from  Pel- 
ham  who  had  the  death  penalty  passed  upon  him. 


THK    SHAYS    RKF.B;I,I,I(JN.  385 

Henry  McCulloch  was  a  farmer  and  his  farm  was  the  whole  or  a 
part  of  home  lot  48  originally  drawn  by  John  Stinson  on  the  middle 
range  road  about  a  mile  west  of  the  Old  Meeting  House  and  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  C.  P.  Hanson  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  War.  The  site 
of  the  residence  of  McCulloch  is  back  from  the  highway  and  north- 
east of  the  farm  house  of  Mr.  Hanson.  Some  stones  of  the  founda- 
tion remain  and  the  well  with  its  moss  covered  stones  and  abundance 
of  pure  w^ater  can  be  seen  by  the  visitor  interested  in  tracing  such 
lines  of  history. 

Henry  McCulloch  of  Pelham,  Jason  Parmenter  of  Bernardston, 
David  Luddington  of  Southampton,  James  White  of  Colraine  and 
Alpheus  Colton  of  Longmeadow,  were  tried  in  April  1787  and  found 
guilty.  McCulloch  was  sentenced  to  death  by  hanging  on  the  gal- 
lows for  participating  in  the  insurrection,  the  date  was  fixed  and  he 
was  confined  in  jail  at  Northampton  awaiting  the  fatal  day. 

Petitions  numerously  signed  for  a  reprieve  were  forwarded  to  Gov. 
Bowdoin  and  the  following  order  for  delay  in  the  execution  of  the 
sentence  was  forwarded  to  High  Sheriff  Porter.    ' 

"Boston,  Mav  17,  1787. 
Elisha   Porter,  Esq.,  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Hampshire. 

Warrant  deferring  the  execution  of  Henry  McCulloch  and  Jason  Par- 
menter. We  therefore  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  Council  do  hereby 
direct  you  to  suspend  and  delay  the  sentence  aforesaid  until  Thursday  the 
twenty-first  day  of  June  next,  and  hereby  require  you  then,  between  the  hours 
of  12  and  three  o'clock  in  the  daytime  to  execute  the  said  sentence  of  death 
in  execution  against  them  and  cause  them  to  be  hanged  up  by  the  neck  until 
they  be  dead  as  directed  in  the  warrant.     James  Bowdoin." 

After  the  reprieve  petitions  for  his  pardon  and  release  were  circu- 
lated. There  was  a  petition  from  Hatfield  signed  by  73  people  of 
that  town  :  one  from  Hadley  having  44  names  :  one  from  Colraine 
and  from  other  towns.  Pelham  people  were  greatly  interested  for 
the  release  and  pardon  of  McCulloch  and  the  following  petition  with 
appended  list  of  names  shows  that  almost  all  of  the  male  inhabitants 
must  have  signed  it. 

..  piixixioN  TO  His  J-^xcei.i.enxv.  James  Bowdoix,  Esq. 

Govenor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  and  the  Honorable 
Council.  The  Sul^cribers,  Petitioners,  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Pelham, 
in  the  County  of  Hampshire,  in  behalf  of  Henry  McCulloch  of  said  Pelham, 
now  a  prisoner  within  the  goalin  Northampton  under  a  sentence  of  death 
for    treason   against  the   Government    most  humbly   shews  : — That,   very 


386  HISTORY    OK    I 'K I, HAM.     MASS. 

deeply  affected  with  the  unhappy  condition  of  the  said  Henry  McCulloch 
and  anxiously  desirious  to  do  everything  within  their  power  and  to  use  every 
proper  and  regular  method  in  order  to  avert  if  possible  his  impending  Fate, 
they  have  presumed  to  approach  your  Excellency  &  Honors  with  their  most 
Honorable  petition  in  favour  of  the  said  Henry  begging  the  clemency  and 
mercy  of  the  government  to  spare  his  forefited  Life  and  Pardon  his  offences 
for  which  he  is  sentenced  to  die. — They  beg  Leave  to  assure  your  Excellency 
and  Honors  that  although  he  stands  convicted  of  so  high  and  aggravated  an 
offence,  yet  he  is  by  no  means  in  other  respects  of  an  abandoned  Character 
but  has  been  in  the  vicinity  where  he  dwells  considered  as  benevolent  and 
useful  citizen,  and  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  your  Petitioners  that  in  case  his 
Life  might  be  saved  he  would  be  induced  from  his  past  errors,  misfortunes 
and  Dangers  to  yield  due  submission  to  the  Laws  of  the  Government  and 
make  all  possible  atonement  for  Past  Offenses,  by  future  obedience ; — your 
Petitioners  further  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  your  Merciful  and  compassionate 
consideration  the  distresses  of  an  aged  and  impotent  Parent,  and  all  the  ten- 
der agencies  of  surrounding  Neighbors  and  Friends,  and  likewise  to  spare 
your  Excellencie's  and  Honor's  in  case  the  said  unhappy  Prisoner  would 
receive  a  pardon  it  would  be  considered  by  your  Humble  Petitioners  and 
by  the  Inhabitance  of  their  town  in  general,  as  such  an  act  of  clemency  as 
would  lay  them  under  the  most  particular  obligations  to  use  their  utmost  influ- 
ence in  future  in  order  to  promote  and  secure  a  due  submission  to  Govern- 
ment and  obedience  to  the  Laws  :  your  Petitioners  therefore  Most  Humbly 
Pray  that  the  said  Prisoners  life  may  be  spared,  and  he  may  receive  a  full 
pardon  for  his  offences,  and  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  May  1787. 
Ebenezer  Liscom,  (Blotted)  Peebles. 

Hugh  Johnson,  John  Hood, 

John  Crawford,  John  Harkness  2d, 

John  Bruce,  Ebenezer  Gray, 

Ephriam  Church,  Adam  Johnson, 

Adam  Clark.  William  Dunlap, 

Orles  Keith,  Reuben  Lothridge, 

Wm  Johnston  Robert  Crossett. 

Joseph  Packard,  Starling  King. 

Joseph  Thompson,  Wm  Wells, 

James  McMilleon,  Nathn'l  .Sampson, 

Jonathan  Gray,  Thomas  McMillan, 

Mathew  Brow'n,  James  McMillan, 

Barnabas  Blackmer,  James  Thomson, 

John  McCulloch,  John  Rinken, 

James  Taylor,  Jacob  Gray, 

Jonathan  Hood,  Andrew  Conkey, 

David  Conkey,  Thompson, 

Levi  Packard,  James  Abercrombie, 

Robert  Houston.  Lsaac  Conkey. 

James  Thompson.  Jonathan  Leach. 

Elihu  Billings,  Stephen  F"ish, 

Thomas  Dick,  Daniel  Tyler, 

Eliakim  Barlow.  Jonathan  Engram. 

Joseph  Tinkham.  Alase  Crosther, 

M  Clark.  Hugh  Holland, 

James  King,  Ezekiel  ]5aker. 


HE    SHAYS    REBELLION. 


387 


John  Peebles, 
John  Hamilton, 
Samuel  Hyde, 
Thomas  Harlow, 
Ezekiel  Conkey, 
David  Houston, 
Alexander  Conkey, 
Alexander  Conkey,  Jr. 
John  Coal, 
Levi  Arms. 
Isaac  Barlow, 
Joel  Crawford, 
John  Thompson, 
Mathew  Gray, 
Isaac  Abercrombie, 
Robert  McCuUoch, 
Wm  Baldwin. 
Robert  Abercrombie, 
Peter  King, 
Joseph  Rinken, 
Mathew  Rinken, 
Isaac  Dodge, 
Gideon  Hacket, 
George  Hacket, 
Ichahod  Hay  ward, 
John  Abbott, 
Andrew  Abercrombie, 
Thomas  Montgomery, 
Samuel  HoUey, 
Samuel  Stevenson, 
John  Johnson, 
Stephen  Andrews. 
James  Cowden, 
Uriah  Southworth, 
Abner  Amsdill, 
Robert  Sekell, 
Elisha  Conkey, 
James  Latham, 
William  Choate,  Jr. 
James  Cowan,  Jr, 
James  Cowan. 
Joseph  Hamilton, 
George  Eliot, 
Jeremiah  McMillan, 

The  above  petition  was  forwarded  to  Gov  Bowdoin,  at  Boston. 

Gen.  Ebenezer  Mattoon,  who  it  is  said  counted  McCulloch  among 
his  personal  friends,  wrote  to  Lieut.  Gov.  Thomas  Gushing  in  which 
he  said. 

"  I  am  fearful  McCulloch  will  suffer  for  want  of  proper  knowledge  of  his 
character.  He  is  rash  and  bad  in  many  of  his  expressions,  exceedingly  so, 
yet  when  he  is  out  of  bad  company  and  himself,  I  declare  I  know  not  of  a 
person  of  more  honesty  and  fidelity,  nor  a  person  more  generous  according 
to  his  ability  ;  surely  less  guilty  than  either  of  the  four  who  are  pardoned. 
I    am  certain  of  it,  from  my  own  knowledge.— He  is  forward :  had  a  good 


James  Kim, 
Wm  Hays, 
Savanna  Hays, 
David  Harkness, 
John  Harkness, 
Timothy  Engram, 
James  Hyde, 
Timothy  Clapp, 
Nathan  Perkins, 
Thomas  Fuller, 
Clement  iMarshal, 
Daniel  Harkness, 
John  Barber, 
James  Rinken, 
Jonathan  Snow, 
Alexander  Torrence, 
Ebenezer  Saris, 
Samuel  Rhods, 
Thomas  Conkey, 
Robert  Maklam, 
Wm  Conkey,  Jr. 
Robert  Young  Peebles, 
Ebenezer  Wood, 
James  Hunter, 
Isaac  Baker, 
Lewis  Baker, 
Elam  Brown, 
Wm  Ashley, 
David  Sloan, 
Samuel  Fenton. 
Aaron  Gray, 
Mathew  Gray,  Jr. 
Eliot  Gray, 
Barber  Gray, 
Patrick  Gray, 
Joel  Gray, 
Thomas  Gray, 
Jeremiah  Gray, 
James  Conkey. 
James  Baker, 
James  Conkey,  Jr. 
Patrick  McMUlan, 
Jonathan  McMillan." 


388  HISrORY    OF     PELHAM,     MASS. 

horse  and  was  frequently  called  upon  by  Shays,  Gray  and  other  leaders  in 

Pelham. He  frequently  told  me  he  wished  he  were  out  of  it,  but  he  could 

not  live  in  Pelham  unless  he  joined  them.  Have  been  acquainted  with  him 
a  number  of  years  and  knew  him  in  private  life.  I  should  have  been  happy 
while  at  Springfield  with  the  Government  troops,  and  Shays  in  Amherst,  If 
I  had  known  that  my  family  were  protected  by  McCulloch. 

I  have  suffered  much  in  person  and  property  by  these  people, — I  have 
been  obliged  to  move  my  family  to  a  Neighboring  town  for  Shelter. — Not- 
withstanding all  this  I  must  beg  for  McCulloch.  I  cannot  express  my  feel- 
ings on  this  subject,  but  am  sure  McCulloch  is  not  the  person  to  make  an 
example  of.     Ebenezer  Mattoon,  Jun. 

To  Major  Thomas  Gushing,  Boston. 
Northampton,  May  8,  1787." 

The  earnestness  and  feeling  displayed  in  the  above  letter  shows 
that  Gen.  Mattoon  had  more  than  an  ordinary  interest  in  McCulloch 
and  a  story  that  has  come  down  from  the  time  of  the  insurrection 
touching  Gen.  Mattoon's  relations  with  McCulloch  may  explain  to 
some  extent  this  peculiar  interest. 

McCulloch  and  Mattoon  were  said  to  have  been  associated  together 
in  years  previous  to  the  Shays  rebellion  when  they  were  young  men 
and  they  made  a  compact  or  agreement  each  with  the  other  that  in 
after  life  should  one  become  well  to  do  and  the  other  be  poor  and  in 
need,  he  should  have  the  privilege  of  making  his  wants  known  and 
receive  needed  assistance.  Later  in  life  McCulloch  was  in  rather 
straightened  circumstances,  and  it  is  said,  used  to  come  to  Gen.  Mat- 
toon's  home  at  Amherst  and  say  to  the  General,  "  Dost  thou  remem- 
ber the  compact  ?"  and  in  response  McCulloch's  bags  were  at  once 
filled  with  grain  from  the  General's  well  tilled  granary,  which  the  for- 
mer would  take  home  to  his  fan.ily  in  Pelham. 

As  Henry  McCulloch  and  Jason  Parmenter  were  associated  together 
in  the  warrant  for  execution  and  in  the  reprieve  it  may  not  be  out  of 
place  to  state  that  active  measures  were  taken  by  Parmenter's  friends 
for  his  pardon. 

A  petition  for  the  reprieve  of  Jason  Parmenter  was  sent  to  the 

Govenor  dated  at  Sudbury.  May,  11,  1787,  signed  by, 

Ruth  Parmenter,  (mother.) 

fMicAH  Parmenter, 
Brothers  ,  deliv^j^^jj^e  Parmenter, 

°  "^  Israel  Parmenter, 


J^^^"  ^SiLAS  Parmenter. 


IHE    SHAYS    REBELLION.  389 

There  was  also  a  petition  sent  to  the  governor  by  the  condemned 
Jason  and  signed  by  himself  alone,  in  which  he  pled  earnestly  for 
pardon.  The  result  of  the  various  petitions  and  letters  poured  in 
upon  Govenor  Bowdoin  seemed  to  have  the  desired  effect  and  not 
only  reprieve  for  a  few  weeks  but  a  '-full,  free  and  ample  pardon  " 
was  granted.  Whether  there  was  any  real  purpose  to  hang  these 
men,  on  the  part  of  the  state  authorities  may  be  questioned,  but  the 
men  under  sentence  of  death  were  led  to  believe  that  the  state  would 
punish  rebels  by  death. 

Governor  Bowdoin  went  out  of  office  before  the  final  decision  was 
made  concerning  the  cases  of  the  two  condemned  rebels  and  they 
were  pardoned  by  Governor  John  Hancock.  The  document  which 
relieved  the  men  from  their  fears  and  set  them  at  liberty  read  sub- 
stantially as  follows,  only  the  important  and  effective  portions  being 
copied. 

"  We  therefore  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Council  of  our 
Special  grace  do  hereby  remit  to  the  said  Henry  McCulloch  and  Jason  Par- 
menter  a  full  free  and  ample  pardon  of  all  the  Pains  and  Penalties  they  were 
liable  to  suffer  and  undergo  by  Vertue  of  the  Sentences  and  Judgements 
aforesaid  and  of  which  the  Sheriff  of  our  said  County  of  Hampshire  is  in 
an  especial  manner  to  take  notice.  John  HANCf)CK,  Governor. 

Boston,  Sept.  12,  1787." 

While  the  friends  of  Henry  McCulloch  were  doing  their  best  to  get 
him  pardoned  and  set  at  liberty  during  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1787,  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Pelham  people  who  had  been  engaged 
in  rebellion  against  the  state  government  had  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance  and  had  been  at  work  on  their  farms  as  law  abiding 
citizens. 

From  the  rolls  among  the  records  at  the  State  House  the  following 
list  of  men  from  Pelham,  who  had  been  in  rebellion,  has  been  copied 
in  full.  Some  delivered  up  guns  they  had  used  against  the  state  ; 
some  did  not,  while  others  offered  such  excuses  as  they  had  for  their 
conduct. 

"  Pelham  men  who  took  oath  of  allegiance  .\pril  i6,  17S7.  because  they 
had  been  engaged  in  the  insurrection. 

Thomas  Johnson,  j^^     1^  ^  j^i,^,.^, 

George  Eliot,  ■'       ^  mark 

John  Harkness  2*^.  John  Hamilton,  Jun., 

Daniel  Harkness  Jun,  James  Cowan,  Jun., 

David  Hays,  James  Johnston, 

James  Baker  Feb.  27,  1787,  Joel  Crawford, 

Stephen  Andrews,  Moors  Johnston, 


39°  HIsrOKY    OF    I'KLHA.M,    MASS. 

Stephen   Pettingall  Jacob  Edson,  gun. 

Abner  Amsdill,  John  Bruce,  Gun, 

Samuel  Rhods,  gun,  Eleakim   liarton, 

George  Racket,  gun,  I.saac  Abercrombie. 

Uriah  Southworth,  gun.  Abiah  Southwortli. 

Joseph  Tinkliam,  gun,  Justus  Cowan. 

WilHam  Cowan.  Jonathan  Baker, 

John  Cowan,  Eliot  (iray, 

Lewis  Ames,  gun,  Jonathan  .Snow. 

John  Cole,  gun,  Joel  Rinken. 

Thirty  persons  on  the  rigiit  hand  of  this  column  (meaning  tlie  first  thirty 
names)  Personally  appeared  and  took  and  subscribed  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Commonwealth  on  the  i6  day  of  April  1787. 

Coram  (before  me.)         E.  Mattoon.  Jun.,  Justice  Peace." 
"  Hugh  Johnston  subscribed  March  14.  17S7  Excepting  the  words  '  Ecclesi- 
astical or  Spiritual. 

March  16  Ebenezer  Gray  carried  no  arms  he  said. 

March  19  Simeon  Smith  delivered  his  Gun. 

March  20  Medad  Moody  '  lent  a  gun  unwillingly.' 

March  21  Joshua  Whitney  aided  only  by  leading  home  his  brothers  horse. 

Veh  6  Elias  Smith.  Samuel  Smith  Received  their  arms  at  Amherst. 
Henry  Lee  Never  bore  Arms. 

March  23,  1787,  Ezekiel  Conkey.  David  Conkey, 

James  Abercrombie,  James  McMillan, 

David  Pratt,  Robert  Crosett, 

Samuel  Robins,  Jeremiah  McMillan, 

Eliott  (;ray  2",  Wm.  McMillan. 

Thomas  Clelland,  Jonathan  McMillan. 

Joseph  Johnston,  Wm.  Johnston. 

Ezekiel  Conkey,  Elisha  Gray, 

Thomas  Thompson.  Joseph  Waiscoat, 

Ezekiel  Baker,  Thomas  Conkey, 

John  Thompson  Jan..  John  Hunter. 

Andrew  Hyde. 

Before  Isaac  Powers,  Justice  Peace." 
"Sept.  10,  1787,  Lieut.  Timothy  Packard  of  Pelham  took  oath    l)efore  me 

E.  Mattoon.  Jun." 

'•  Ha.vipshihe  ss  Feh.  I,  1787. 
Then  John  Hood,  Adam  Johnson,  Jonathan  Engram,  Samuel  Engram  of 

Pelham  informally  appeared  before  me  and  took  and  subcribed  to  the  oath 

of  Allegiance.  Before  me  Ab.ver  Morgan. 

Elisha  Baldwin-,   ( 

Samuel  Wricjht."  i 

Lieut.  Timothy  Packard  was  one  of  the  last  to  take  the  oath,  while 
Hood,  Johnson  and  the  two  Ingrams  were  the  earliest ;  the  date  on 
which  they  subscribed  to  the  oath  of  allegiance  was  one  of  the  four 
days  that  Capt.  Shays  and  his  men  were  quartered  at  Pelham  after 
his  repulse  at  Springfield  and  before  he  marched  to  Petersham. 
Baldwin  and  Wright  were  Pelham  men  and  doubtless  subscribed  to 
the  oath  but  the  record  was  not  filled  out. 


iMIC    OF    CAPTAIN    SHAV: 


AIUAL    ROBINSOX    KARiNl    HOUSE. 


Captain   Daniel   Shays 


Daniel  Shays  is  said  to  have  been  born  in  Hopkinton,  Mass.  in  1747. 
His  parents  being  poor,  and  his  early  education  neglected.  It  is 
also  said  that  he  removed  from  Hopkinton  to  Great  Barrington 
before  the  Revolutionary  war.  How  long  before  the  war  his  removal 
occurred  we  have  no  record,  neither  is  there  any  means  of  determin- 
ing when  he  came  to  Pelham.  But  he  was  there  when  the  Lexington 
alarm  was  sent  out  and  joined  a  company  of  minute  men  under 
Capt.  Reuben  Dickinson  of  Amhetst.  This  Company  served  eleven 
days.  Shays  was  an  ensign  in  this  company.  Capt.  Dickinson 
organized  another  company  May  i,  1775,  which  served  three  months- 
and  eight  days  and  Daniel  Shays  was  sergeant  in  this  company.  He 
was  promoted  for  bravery  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Shays  was 
in  Capt.  Reuben  Dickinson  company  of  Col.  Ruggles  Woodbridge's- 
Regiment  on  the  expedition  to  Ticonderoga  in  1776  ;  was  appointed 
lieutenant  in  Col.  Varnum's  regiment  in  1776  and  detached  on 
recruiting  service  ;  enlisted  a  company  which  he  took  to  West  Point, 
whose  engagement  to  serve  was  conditioned  upon  his  being  appoint- 
ed captain.  He  was  not  appointed  captain  and  the  men  were  appor- 
tioned to  different  corps.  Shays  was  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne 
and  at  the  storming  of  Stony  Point.  In  1779  he  received  a  captain's 
commission  and  was  with  Col.  Putnam's  regiment  at  Newark.  N.  J., 
in  1780,  when  he  resigned  and  left  the  service. 

Capt.  Shays  probably  returned  to  Pelham  soon  after  resigning  his 
position  in  the  army.  Landlord  Conkey  was  a  friend  of  the  Captain 
and  there  had  been  business  transactions  of  some  sort  between  then> 
as  shown  by  the  following  receipt  : 

'•Sudbury  February  11    1779 
Received  of  William  Conkey,  Jan.   tlie  soin  four   hundred  dollars.       I    say 
Re'cd  by  me.  Abigail  Shays." 

Abigail  Shays  was  the  Captain's  wife,  and  the  dating  of  the  paper 
at  Sudbury  may  indicate  her  place  of  abode  while  her  husband  was 
in  the  army. 

On  the  9th  of  March  1781,  Capt.  Shays  was  chosen  a  member  of 
Committee  of    Safety    at  Pelham;    was  chosen  again  in  1782    on  the 


392  HISrOKY    OK     PKI.HAM,     MASS. 

same  committee,  and  the  committee  were  directed  to  attend  the  County 
Convention.  He  was  also  chosen  one  of  the  town  Warden  for  several 
years,  and  held  that  office  the  year  the  insurrection  broke  out.  He 
was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  several  of  the  conventions  for  the  consider- 
ation of  grievances  which  began  to  burden  the  people  before  the  war 
closed.  It  was  while  he  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
that  he  filed  the  following  petition  or  bill  for  services  at  conventions : 

"Pelham  March  i8  1782 
This  is  to  see  if  the  town  will  allow  me  i£ — 17s — 8d  for  tending  the    Con- 
vention held  at  Hatfield  and  liadley  nine  days  and  seven  nights. 

Daniel  Shays." 

March  26,  1783,  Capt.  Shays  was  allowed  12s  for  attending  a 
County  Convention.  The  last  office  to  which  he  was  chosen  in  Pel- 
ham  was  as  delegate  to  attend  a  convention  at  Hadley  in  October, 
1786 — but  he  was  excused  and  another  man  chosen  in  his  place. 

The  farm  on  which  Capt.  Shays  lived  is  on  the  Prescott  side  of 
the  West  Branch  of  Swift  river ;  for  the  last  hundred  years  known  as 
the  "Johnson  place."  The  farm  house  now  on  the  place  is  not  the 
one  occupied  by  the  rebel  captain,  but  is  only  a  little  removed  from 
the  site  of  the  one  that  preceded  it.  The  farm  lays  along  the  middle 
range  road  and  the  Old  Conkey  Tavern  was  half  a  mile  or  so  farther 
down  the  road  in  the  Hollow.  Capt.  Shays  was  no  stranger  at  Land- 
lord Conkey's  tavern,  nor  at  the  hostelry  of  Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds  on 
the  East  Hill,  living  as  he  did  between  the  two. 

The  open  fire-place  in  the  bar  room  of  Landlord  Conkey's  tavern 
was  a  pleasant  place  during  the  long  winter  evenings,  when  the  hard 
times  began  to  be  felt  by  the  debt  burdened  farmers,  after  the  war 
was  ended.  What  more  fitting  place  to  talk  over  their  troubles  than 
beside  the  great  open  fire  place  with  its  blazing  logs,  and  the  well 
filled  decanters  on  the  shelves  of  the  bar  in  the  corner  behind. 
Here  Capt.  Shays  met  the  people  who  came  to  consult  him  in  regard 
to  their  grievances.  Here  the  first  mutterings  of  opposition  in  this 
vicinity  were  heard,  and  later  developed  into  defiance  of  the  state 
government,  and  armed  resistance  to  the  Courts  and  laws.  In  the 
open  space  in  front  of  the  tavern  Capt.  Shays  drilled  the  men  in  the 
use  of  arms,  and  as  the  insurrection  assumed  greater  proportions  he 
was  called  to  other  parts  of  the  state  to  organize  the  excited  people. 

Capt.  Shays  was  doubtless  poor  in  a  financial  sense,  and  possibly 
■cramped  and  hampered  by  debts  he  was  unabled  to  pay,  as  many  of 


^  ^^ 


\- 


K,^5>  '^■'' 


.   f^^^' 


r. 


-394 


HIS  I  OK V    (IK    PKI.HAM,    MASS. 


his  neighbors  were  ;  and  felt  as  keenly  as  they  the  distress  caused 
by  the  lack  of  money  and  the  other  grievances  complained  of  by  the 
people.  Whether  he  had  large  indebtedness  is  not  known,  but  a 
note  still  in  existance  is  evidence  that  he  was  unable  to  settle  small 
indebtedness  with  cash. 

Capt.  Shays"  Note. 

"For  \'alue  re'cd  I  promise  to  pay  to  William  Conkey  or  Order  the  sum 
of  Eighteen  shillings  si.x  pence,  to  be  paid  by  the  first  of  January  next  with 
interest  for  the  same,  as  witness  my  hand.  DA\ir:L  Shays. 

i^elham  Sept  i,  1786.'" 

The  above  note  was  overdue  when  he  led  his  deluded  followers 
from  Springfield  back  to  Pelham  on  the  28th  of  January,  1787,  and 
was  never  paid,  Milo  Abbott  of  Prescott  holds  the  note.  The 
small  sum  represented  by  the  note  may  have  been  a  loan  from  his 
friend  Conkey,  to  whom  Shays  had  extended  aid  and  comfort  in  pre- 
vious years  as  shown  by  the  following  letter,  which  is  of  interest, 
being  a  copy  of  an  autograph  letter  of  the  Captain  while  stationed  at 
Putnams'  Heights.  The  letter  is  also  of  use  in  forming  an  intelli- 
gent idea  of  the  character  and  capacity  of  the  insurgent  leader  ;  who, 
though  not  well  educated,  had  some  military  experience, — was  popu- 
lar and  companionable  among  the  people,  and  had  some  capacity  for 
organizing  and  directing  the  movements  of  the  excited  insurgents, 
but  it  seems  fair  and  reasonable  to  admit  that  he  was  not  so  able  a 
leader  as  might  have  been  chosen  from  the  lar^e  number  of  insur- 
gents in  the  state. 

■•  PUT.NAMS   HeKJHTH""  JuXK  ^5"'   177.S. 

Mr.  Coxkky,  Sir:  After  my  kind  Requist  to  you  I  wish  to  inform  that  1 
am  well  &  in  good  health,  hoping  that  these  will  find  you  &  your  family  as 
well  as  these  leave  me.  I  have  wrote  to  you  once  before  but  hearing  you 
have  not  Rec'dmy  Letter  from  me  &  understand  that  you  have  been  Drafted 
with  these  last  men  I  write  to  you  now  for  you  to  inform  the  selectmen 
of  the  town  by  sliowing  thim  this  Letter  that  you  have  hired  Jacob  Toorell 
for  to  do  eighteen  months  service  for  you  on  consideration  of  your  paying  him 
ten  pounds  for  that  space  of  time  which  I  saw  you  pay  him  the  money. 

Thinking  that  these  few  lines  will  be  sufficient  for  to  clear  you  for  the 
present  time  I  thouglit  I  would  embrace  this  opportunity  to  write  to  you 
for  your  Security.  Having  nothing  Remarkable  for  news  cK;  hoping  these 
will  find  you  and  yours  well  I  must  Conclude. 

Your  Friend  and  Servant,  Daniki.  Shavs. 

To  Mr.  William  Conkky,  Tavern  Keeper  in  Pelham." 


CAPTAIN    DANIEL    SHAYS. 


395 


Capt.  Daniel  Shays  defended  his  action  in  the  rebellion  in  an  inter- 
view with  Gen.  Rufus  Putnam,  the  revolutionary  soldier,  seventeen 
days  before  the  attack  upon  the  Springfield  Armory.  General  Put- 
nam reported  the  interview  to  Governor  Bowdoin  : 

'•  Rutland,  January  S,  1787. 

Sir: — As  I  was  coming  through  Pelham  the  other  day  I  met  Mr.  Shays 
in  the  road  alone,  where  we  had  a  conversation,  some  of  which  was  of  a 
very  particular  kind.  I  shall  state  the  whole,  by  way  of  dialog,  as  far  as  I 
can  recollect ;  but  in  order  to  understand'the  meaning  of  some  parts  of  it,  it 
is  necessary  you  should  know  that  the  week  before  they  stopped  Worcester 
court  the  last  time,  I  spent  many  hours  with  Shays  and  his  officers,  endeav- 
oring to  dissuade  them  from  their  measures,  and  persuade  them  to  return  to 
their  allegiance. 

Mr.  Shays — Do  you  know  if  the  petition  drawn  up  at  Worcester  has  been 
sent  to  the  governor  or  not.? 

Putnam — I  am  surprised  to  hear  you  inquire  that  of  me  ;  you  certainly 
ought  to  know  whether  you  have  sent  it,  or  not — however,  since  you  ask  the 
question  I  tell  you  I  have  been  credibly  informed  that  so  late  as  last  Friday 
it  had  not  been  presented. 

Shays — They  promised  to  send  it  immediately,  and  it  was  very  wrong 
they  did  not ;  but  I  don't  know  that  it  will  alter  the  case,  for  1  don't  suppose 
the  governor  and  council  will  take  any  notice  of  it. 

Putnam — You  have  no  reason  to  expect  they  will  grant  the  prayer  of  it. 

Shays — Why  not  ? 

Putnam — Because  many  things  asked  for  it  is  out  of  their  power  to  grant; 
and  besides  that  since  you  and  your  party  have  once  spurned  at  offered 
mercy,  it  is  absurd  to  expect  that  another  general  pardon  should  be  ever 
granted. 

Shays — No  !     Then  we  must  fight  it  out. 

Putnam — That  as  you  please,  but  it's  impossible  you  should  succeed,  and 
the  event  will  be  that  you  must  either  run  your  country  or  hang,  unless  you 
are  fortunate  enough  to  bleed. 

Shays — By  God  I'll  never  run  my  country. 

Putnam — Why  not  ?  It's  more  honorable  than  to  fight  in  a  bad  cause, 
and  be  the  means  of  involving  your  country  in  a  civil  war;  and  that  is  a 
bad  cause  ;  you  have  always  owned  to  me;  that  is,  you  owned  to  me  at 
Holden,  the  week  before  you  stopped  Worcester  court,  that  it  was  wrong 
in  the  people  ever  to  take  up  arms  as  they  had. 

Shays — So  I  did,  and  so  I  say  now,  and  I  told  you  then  and  tell  you  now, 
that  the  sole  motive  with  me  in  taking  the  command  at  Springfield,  was  to 
prevent  the  shedding  of  blood,  which  would  absolutely  have  been  the  case, 
if  I  had  not;  and  I  am  so  far  from  considering  it  as  a  crime,  that  I  look 
upon  it  that  the  government  are  indebted  to  me  for  what  I  did  there. 

Putnam — If  that  was  the  case,  how  came  you  to  pursue  the  matter.?  Why 
did  you  not  stop  there  ? 


39^  HISrOKY    OK    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Shays — I  did  not  pursue  the  matter;  it  was  noised  about  that  the  war- 
rants were  out  after  me,  and  I  was  determined  not  to  be  taken. 

Putnam — This  won't  do.  How  came  you  to  write  letters  to  several  towns 
in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  to  choose  officers  and  furnish  themselves  with 
arms  and  60  rounds  of  ammunition  ? 

Shays — I  never  did  ;  it  was  a  cursed  falsehood. 

Putnam — Somebody  did  in  your  name,  which  it  can  never  be  presumed 
was  done  without  your  approbation. 

Shays — I  never  had  any  hand  in  the  matter;  it  was  done  by  a  Committee, 
and  Doctor  Hunt  and  somebody  else,  who  I  don't  know,  put  my  name  to  the 
copy  and  sent  it  to  the  Governor  and  Court. 

Putnam — But  why  did  you  not  take  the  benefit  of  the  act  of  indemnity, 
as  soon  as  it  passed  ?  But  instead  of  that,  you  ordered  the  whole  posse  col- 
lected and  marched  as  far  as  Shrewsbury,  in  order  to  go  and  stop  the  Court 
at  Cambridge. 

Shays — I  never  ordered  a  man  to  march  to  Shrewsbury,  nor  anywhere 
else,  except  when  I  lay  at  Rutland.  1  wrote  to  a  few  towns  in  the  counties 
of  Worcester  and  Hampshire.  You  are  deceived;  I  never  had  half  so  much 
to  do  with  the  matter  as  you  think  for,  and  the  people  did  not  know  of  the 
act  of  indemnity  before  they  collected. 

Putnam — If  they  did  not  you  did,  for  you  told  me  at  Holden  that  you 
knew  everything  that  passed  at  Court:  and  that  when  you  talked  with  Gen. 
Ward  at  .Shrewsbury  you  was  able  to  correct  him  in  several  things  which  he 
advanced. 

.Shays — I  could  tell  you— but — 

Putnam — I  don't  wish  to  know  any  of  your  secrets.  But  why  did  you 
not  go  home  with  the  Hampshire  people  from  Holden,  as  you  told  me  in  the 
evening  you  would  the  next  morning  ? 

Shays — I  can  tell  you,  it  would  not  have  done.  1  have  talked  with  Maj. 
Goodman.  I  told  him  what  you  said,  and  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion  the  act 
would  not  have  taken  us  in. 

Putnam — Suppose  that  to  be  the  case,  yet  the  General  Court  might  have 
extended  it  to  you ;  the  chance  in  your  favor  was  much  greater  before  than 
after  you  had  stopped  Worcester  Court.  Why  did  you  not  petition,  before 
you  added  that  crime  to  the  score? 

Shays — It  would  have  been  better;  but  I  cannot  see  why  stopping  that 
Court  is  such  a  crime  that  if  1  might  have  been  pardoned  before,  I  should 
be  exempted  now. 

Putnam— When  offered  mercy  has  been  once  refused,  and  the  crime 
repeated.  Government  never  can  with  any  kind  of  honor  and  safety  to  the 
community  pass  it  over  without  hanging  somebody  ;  and  as  you  are  at  the 
head  of  the  insurgents,  and  the  person  who  directs  all  their  movements,  I 
cannot  see  you  have  any  chance  to  escape. 

Shays — I  at  their  head  !     I  am  not. 

Putnam— It  is  said  you  are  first  in  command,  and  it  is  supposed  they 
have  appointed  you  tlieir  General. 


CAPTAIN    DANIEL    SHAYS.  397 

Shays — I  never  had  any  appointment  but  that  at  Springfield,  nor  did  I 
ever  take  command  of  any  men  but  those  of  the  county  of  Hampshire  ;  no 
General  Putnam,  you  are  deceived,  I  never  had  half  so  much  to  do  with  the 
matter  as  you  think  for,  nor  did  I  order  any  men  to  march,  except  when  at 
Rutland,  as  I  told  you  before. 
Putnam — Did  you  not  muster  the  party  to  go  to  Springfield  the  other  day  ? 
Shays — No,  nor  had  I  any  hand  in  the  matter,  except  that  I  rode  down  in 
a  sleigh. 

Putnam — But  I  saw  your  name  to  the  request  presented  to  the  justices — 
that  you  won't  deny  ? 

Shays — I  know  it  was  there,  and  Grover  put  it  there  without  my  knowl- 
edge ;  I  wan't  got  into  Springfield  when  it  was  done. — the  matter  was  all 
over  before  I  got  there  and  I  had  no  hand  in  it. 

Putnam — But  is  it  a  truth  that  you  did  not  order  the  men  to  march  to 
Springfield  the  other  day  .^ 

Shays — Yes — I  was  sent  to  and  refused,   and  told   them    I    would  have 
nothing  to  do  in  the  matter. 
Putnam — But  why  ? 

Shays — I  told  them  it  was  inconsistent  after  what  we  had  agreed  to  peti- 
tion, as  we  did  at  Worcester,  and  promised  to  remain  quiet  and  not  to 
meddle  with  the  courts  any  more,  till  we  knew  whether  we  could  get  a  par- 
don or  not. 

Putnam^Have  you  not  ordered  the  men  to  march  to  Worcester  the  23d 
of  this  month  .'' 

Shays— No.  I  was  sent  to  from  Worcester  county  to  come  down  w^th 
the  Hampshire  men:  but  I  told  them  I  would  not  go  myself  nor  order  any 
men  to  march. 

Putnam — Who  lias  done  it?  Hampshire  men  are  certainly  ordered  to 
march. 

Shays — Upon  my  refushig  to  act  they  have  chose  a  committee,  who  have 
ordered  the  men  to  march. 

Putnam — But  how  do  you  get  along  with  these  people,  having  been  with 
them  so  long;  how  is  it  possible  they  will  let  you  stay  behind? 

Shays— Well  enough.  I  tell  them  that  I  never  will  have  anything  more  to 
do  with  stopping  Courts,  or  anything  else,  but  to  defend  myself,  till  I  know 
whether  a  pardon  can  be  obtained  or  not. 

Putnam — And  what  if  you  can  not  get  a  pardon? 

Shays — Why,  then  I  will  collect  all  the  force  I  can  and  fight  it  out:  and,  I 
swear,  so  would  you  or  anybody  else,  rather  than  be  hanged. 

Putnam — I  will  ask  you  one  question  more,  you  may  answer  it  or  not,  as 
you  please — it  is  this— Had  you  an  opportunity,  would  you  accept  of  a  par- 
don, and  leave  these  people  to  themselves  ? 
Shays — Yes— in  a  moment. 

Putnam— Then  I  advise  you  to  set  off  this  night  to  Boston,  and  throw 
yourself  upon  the  mercy  and  under  the  protection  of  Government. 

Shays— No,  that  is  too  great  a  risk,  unless  I  was  first  assured  of  a  pardon. 
27 


398  HISIORV    OK    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Putnam — There  is  no  risk  in  the  matter,  you  never  heard  of  a  man  who 
voluntarily  did  this,  whose  submission  was  not  accepted  ;  and  if  your  sub- 
mission is  refused,  I  will  venture  to  be  hanged  in  your  room. 

Shays — In  the  first  place,  I  don't  want  you  hanged,  and  in  the  next  place, 
they  would  not  accept  of  you. 

The  only  observation  I  shall  make  is,  that  I  fully  believe  he  may  be 
brought  off,  and  no  doubt  he  is  able  to  inform  Government  more  of  the 
bottom  of  this  plot  than  they  know  at  present. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  Sir  your  Ex'y's  most  obed't  and  humble  servant, 

RuFus  Putnam. 

Gov.    BOWDOIN. 

Capt.  Shays  retreated  in  much  haste  from  Petersham  as  far  as 
Winchester,  N.  H.,  after  he  was  surprised  February  4,  1787,  by  Gen. 
Lincohi's  remarkable  march  through  the  snowstorm,  and  three  days 
later  he  had  nearly  300  men  with  him.  These  dispersed  gradually, 
and  Shays  probably  went  through  Vermont  into  New  York  state,  as 
many  of  his  followers  did. 

On  the  9th  of  February  1787,  Gov.  Bowdoin  issued  a  proclamation 
ordering  the  arrest  of  Daniel  Shays  of  Pelham,  Luke  Day  of  West 
Springfield,  Adam  Wheeler  of  Hubbardston,  and  Eli  Parsons  of 
Adams  ;  designating  them  as  "  Principals  and  abetters,"  and  a  reward 
was  offered  for  their  apprehension.  The  reward  was  renewed  by  the 
state  authorities  in  the  hope  that  Capt.  Shays  might  be  delivered  up 
by  officers  in  whatever  state  he  might  be,  but  he  escaped  arrest  and 
trial  for  more  than  a  year  and  then  Shays  proffered  a  petition  for 
pardon  in  February  1788,  couched  in  the  most  humble  terms.  The 
legislature  then  in  session  failed  to  agree  upon  granting  pardon  to 
Shavs,  but  a  full  pardon  was  granted  in  the  summer  of  1788.  After 
he  was  pardoned  he  is  said  to  have  returned  to  Pelham,  but  there  is 
no  known  record  of  his  living  in  Pelham  after  the  collapse  of  the 
rebellion.  Nor  is  there  any  reliable  evidence  that  he  returned  to  his 
native  state  as  a  place  of  residence,  though  he  may  have  done  so. 
There  is  general  agreement  that  he  did  not  prosper  in  business  where- 
ever  he  was  located.  After  living  in  several  different  places  in  New 
York  state  he  drifted  to  Sparta,  Livingston  county,  where  he  lived  in 
extreme  poverty.  He  died  in  1825,  when  he  was  78  years  old.  His 
grave  is  said  to  be  marked  by  a  flat  stone  in  the  beautiful  cemetery 
of  Conesus  near  Scottsburg.  Something  like  ten  or  twelve  yejjrs  ago 
there  was  a  movement  to  set  up  a  large  boulder  inscribed  with  his 
name  to  mark  the  grave  of  Capt.  Shays  ;  but  it  may  not  have  been 
accomplished.     Letters  of  enquiry  sent  to  the  local   authorities   at 


CAPTAIN    DAN  I  El,    SHAYS. 


399 


Sparta  concerning  the  rebel  captain,  his  death  and  place  of  burial, 
were  not  answered,  and  the  generally  conceded  statements  given 
above  must  be  accepted  as  the  most  authentic  obtainable. 

After  the  rebellion  was  quelled  the  movement  itself  and  Capt. 
Shays  in  particular  was  the  target  for  ridicule  of  all  sorts.  'I'he  would- 
be  poets  of  the  time  exercised  their  talents  upon  him  and  various 
effusions  of  poetical  doggerell  have  come  down  to  the  present  time. 
"  The  Confession  of  (Japt.  Shays  "  follows ;  also  a  more  extended 
version  which  was  sung  by  the  choir  of  the  Olivet  church,  Spring- 
field, at  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
attempt  of  Shays  upon  the  arsenal  in  January,  1887  : 


UP     IHK    EAST    HII.L,    (PRESCOTl). 


THIC  CONFESSION  OF    CAPT.  SHAYS. 

In  former  days  my  name  was  Shays, 

In  Pelham  I  did  dwell,  sir: 
But  now  I'm  forced  to  leave  that  place. 

Because  I  did  rebel,  sir. 

But  in  this  State  I  lived  till  late  : 

By  Satan's  foul  invention; 
In  Pluto's  cause  against  the  laws 

I  raised  an  insurrection. 


400  HISTORY    OF    I'EI.HAM,    MASS. 

In  hell  'twas  planned  by  obscure  hand 
All  laws  should  fail  before  me, 

Though  in  disgrace  the  populace 
Like  Persia  did  adore  me. 

On  mountain's  steed  we  did  proceed. 
Our  federal  stores  to  plunder; 

15ut  there  we  met  with  a  back  set 
From  Shepard'.s  warlike  thunder. 

They  killed  four:  they  wounded  more; 

The  rest  they  run  like  witches; 
Roswell  Merrick  lost  his  drum, 

And  Curtis  split  his  breeches. 

Which  proved  too  hard  for  my  front  guard. 
For  they  still  growing  stronger, 

I'm  resolved  to  go  to  the  shades  below 
And  stay  on  earth  no  longer. 

When  I  arrived  at  the  water  side, 
Where  Charon  kept  the  ferry, 

I  called  for  quick  passage  o'er, 
For  I  dare  no  longer  tarry. 

Then  Damon  came  to  Charon's  boat. 
And  straightly  gave  him^orders 

To  bring  no  more  such  rebels  o"er, 
If  they  had  no  further  orders. 

For  I  have  orders  sent  to  me 
That's  very  strict  indeed,  sir. 

To  bring  no  more  such  rebels  o'er. 
For  they're  of  Charon's  breed,  sir. 

Then  Damon  ordered  Shays  away 

To  gather  up  his  daises  ; 
And  the  service  done  by  him  is 

They  gave  him  many  praises. 

SHAYS'S   REBI':LLI0N. 
My  name  was  Shays  :  in  former  days. 

In  Pelham  I  did  dwell,  sir: 
But  now  I'm  forced  to  leave  that  place, 

Because  I  did  rebel,  sir. 

Within  the  state  I  lived,  of  late, 

By  Satan's  foul  invention. 
In  Pluto's  cause,  against  their  laws 

I  raised  an  insurrection. 


CAPTAIN    DANIEL    SHAYS.  4OI 

Twas  planned  below,  by  that  arch  foe. 

All  laws  should  fall  before  me  ; 
Though  in  disgrace,  the  populace 

Did  Persian-like  adore  me. 

On  mounted  steed  I  did  proceed 

The  federal  stores  to  plunder  ; 
But  there  I  met  with  a  bold  salute 

From  Sbepard's  war-like  thunder. 

He  kindly  sent  his  aid-de-camp 

To  warn  me  of  my  treason  ; 
But  when  I  did  his  favors  scorn, 

He  sent  his  weighty  reason, 

Which  proved  too  hard  for  my  front  guard. 

And  they  still  growing  stronger, 
I  planned  to  go  to  world  below 

And  live  on  earth  no  longer. 

And  when  I  reached  the  river  Styx, 

Where  Charon  kept  the  ferry, 
I  called  for  speedy  passage  o'er 

And  dared  no  longer  tarry. 

But  Charon's  boat  was  freighted  with 

Four  ghosts  from  Springfield  plain,  sir; 
He  bade  me  tarry  on  the  wharf 

Till  the  boat  returned  again,  sir. 

But  while  I  tarried  on  the  wharf, 

My  heart  kept  constant  drumming, 
And  conscious  guilt  made  me  believe 

'Twas  Lincoln's  army  coming. 

Then  Charon  hoists  his  sable  sails, 

The  lazy  gales  seemed  ling'ring ; 
I  leaped  into  the  sulph'rous  stream, 

To  cross  the  flood  by  swimming. 

Then  Demon  came  to  Charon's  boat 

And  strictly  gave  him  orders 
To  take  no  more  such  rebels  o'er, 

Till  he  enlarged  his  borders. 

"  For  I  have  orders  sent  to  me 

That's  very  strict  indeed,  sir, 
To  bring  no  more  such  rebels  o"er, 

They're  such  a  cursed  breed,  sir." 


402  HISTORY    OK    FKLHAM,     MAS^i. 

"Go  tell  that  rebel  to  return. 

And  he  shall  be  well-guarded, 
And  for  the  service  done  for  me 

I'll  see  him  well  rewarded." 

Then  Charon  ordered  Shays  right  back 

To  gather  up  his  daisies, 
And  for  the  service  done  for  him 

He  gave  him  many  praises. 

'I'hen  Shays  was  wroth,  and  soon  replied. 

"  O  1  Charon,  thou  art  cruel  !"' 
And  challenged  him  to  come  on  shore 

And  fight  with  him  a  duel. 

Then  Charon  straightway  ordered  Shays 
To  leave  the  river's  bank,  sir  ; 

For  he  would  never  fight  a  man 
.So  much  below  his  rank,  sir. 

Then  Shays  returned  to  Vermont  state 
Chagrined  and  much  ashamed,  sir: 

y\nd  soon  the  mighty,  rebel  host 
Unto  our  laws  were  tamed,  sir. 

Oh,  then  our  honored  fathers  sat 

With  a  bold  resolution. 
And  framed  a  plan  and  sent  to  us 

Of  noble  constitution. 

America,  let  us  rejoice 

In  our  new  constitution. 
And  never  more  pretend  to  think 

Of  another  revolution. 


Settlement  of  Salem,  N.  Y, 

BY    PELHAM     PEOPLE    IN     1 764. 


Less  than  twenty  years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Pel- 
ham  the  restless  unsatisfied  spirit  developed  itself  as  it  always  does 
among  the  true  pioneers  who  push  out  to  the  edge  of  civiUzation  and 
beyond  to  establish  new  settlements,  and  in  the  spring  of  1761 
James  Turner  and  Joshua  Conkey,  Pelham  men  but  not  among  those 
who  drew  home  lots  in  the  first  division  of  land  in  1739,  started  out 
to  begin  another  settlement  in  the  forests  of  New  York  state  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Crown  Point  where  it  is  probable  both  men  had  seen 
service,  in  the  French  and  Indian  war  which  resulted  in  the  conquest 
of  Canada  in  1760. 

These  men  may  have  discovered  that  the  lands  in  that  section 
were  not  so  rough  and  stony  as  the  tract  of  land  on  which  they  had 
settled  in  Hampshire  county  and  made  up  their  minds  to  improve 
their  condition.  At  any  rate  they  set  out  from  Pelham  in  the  spring 
of  the  year  1761  and  made  the  journey  through  the  wilderness,  to 
Charlotte  county,  New  York,  since  changed  to  Washington  county, 
and  selected  lands  on  the  flats  where  the  village  of  Salem  is  now 
situated.  Turner  and  Conkey  spent  the  summer  there  and  returned 
to  Pelham  to  spend  the  following  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1762 
they  set  forth  again  on  horseback  for  White  Creek,  as  the  new  settle- 
ment was  called  by  these  settlers  from  New  England,  while  other 
settlers  in  that  neighborhood,  Scotch  Presbyterians  from  Ballibay, 
Ireland  in  1765,  insisted  upon  calling  the  settlement  New  Perth, 
from  Perth,  Scotland.  On  this  journey  they  were  accompanied  by 
Hamilton  McCoUister  another  Pelham  man,  and  these  three  were  the 
original  settlers  of  the  town  now  known  as  Salem,  and  the  spot 
where  their  cabin  was  built  is  now  occupied  by  the  On-da-wa  House. 
Each  man  selected  a  tract  of  land  for  himself.  Turner  taking  the 
land  west  of  the  cabin,  and  McCollister  went  up  the  creek  a  little  for 
his  selection,  while  Conkey  went  up  the  creek  for  a  mile  or  so  and 


404  HISTORY    OF    FELHAM,    MASS. 

located.  The  summer  was  spent  upon  the  lands  they  had  selected 
and  when  winter  came  they  returned  to  Pelham.  The  summer  of 
1763  was  spent  in  making  improvements  on  their  lands  and  the  jour- 
ney back  to  Pelham  was  made  late  in  the  autumn  for  the  winter 
sojourn. 

In  the  spring  of  1764  the  three  men,  two  with  families,  set  out 
from  Pelham  to  make  the  journey  to  White  Creek  on  horseback,  with 
all  their  household  effects  also  strapped  upon  the  backs  of  horses. 
In  this  way  they  journeyed  through  the  forests,  and  forded  the  many 
streams  along  the  route. 

These  people  were  the  first  actual  settlers  in  Washington  County. 
Other  families  from  Pelham,  Colraine,  Sturbridge  and  perhaps  other 
Massachusetts  towns  joined  them  in  years  following  and  the  settle- 
ment was  quite  properly  known  as  the '"New  England  Colony." 
They  were  the  founders  of  the  Salem  Church  known  as  "  The 
first  Incorporated  Presbyterian  Congregation  in  Salem,  County  of 
Washington,  and  State  of  New  York.  " 

The  following  tribute  of  respect,  and  estimate  of  the  character  of 
the  settlers  from  Pelham  and  other  Massachusetts  towns,  we  copy 
from  an  Historical  Sketch  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Salem  by 
Rev.  Edward  P.  Sprague  pastor,  1876. 

"The  settlers  from  Massachusetts  were  persons  of  a  character  to  place 
the  very  highest  estimate  upon  all  religious  privileges,  and  whose  first  care 
after  providing  liouses  for  their  families  would  certainly  be  to  secure  for 
them  the  sacred  influences  of  the  church  and  the  preached  Gospel. 

Whatever  they  might  feel  compelled  to  forego  on  occount  of  their  loca- 
tion and  circumstances,  they  woul  I  never  consent  to  neglect  the  establish- 
ment and  maintainance  of  the  ordinances  of  religion.  We  find  therefore  as 
we  might  expect,  that  previous  to  their  leaving  New  England  they  took 
measures  for  securing  to  themselves  a  distinct  church  organization.  And 
this  design  they  never  abandoned,  even  after  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Clark's 
Colony  (from  Ballibay,  Ireland)  furnished  them  with  the  opportunity  of  atten- 
ding Christian  worship. 

They  might  have  joined  themselves  with  the  church  thus  transplanted 
hither  from  Ireland,  and  the  two  colonies  thus  have  been  merged  in  one 
ecclesiastically,  as  well  as  socially,  but  the  points  of  difference  between 
themselves  and  the  Scotch  seem  in  the  main  to  have  presented  almost  insur- 
mountable obstacles.  There  were  at  intervals  certain  more  favorable  sea- 
sons when  such  a  union  was  contemplated,  and  even  appeared  ready  for 
consumation,  but  it  was  never  actually  accomplished,  and  the  New  England 
people  remained,  wliat  they  liad  been  from  the  first,  a  distinct  religious 
congregation." 


SETTLEMENJ-    OF    SALEM,    N.     Y.  405 

The  desire  and  purpose  of  those  who  had  journeyed  from  Pelham 
for  the  early  establishment  of  Gospel  privileges  in  the  new  settlement 
seems  to  have  been  the  same  as  was  manifested  by  the  settlers  of  Pel- 
ham,  and  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  in  White  Creek  or  Salem 
was  delivered  in  the  cabin  of  James  Turner  by  Rev.  Dr.  Clark  a 
Scotchman  from  Ballibay.  Three  years  after  the  settlement  of  Con- 
key,  Turner  and  McCoUister  with  their  families,  or  in  the  year  1767, 
and  soon  after  there  had  been  further  accessions  of  Massachusetts 
people,  they  felt  that  they  must  secure  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  to 
settle  among  them,  and  a  letter  was  written  to  Rev.  David  McGreg- 
orie  of  Londonderry,  N.  H.  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  which  was 
organized  or  constituted  in  1745  by  Rev.  John  Moorehead  of  Boston, 
Rev.  David  McGregorie  of  Londonderry,  N.  H.,  Rev.  l^obert  Aber- 
crombie  of  Pelham  with  Messrs  Alexander  Conkey  of  Pelham  and 
James  McKeon  and  James  Hughes,  at  a  meeting  in  Londonderry 
on  the  16th  of  xYpril  of  that  year,    and  called  the  Boston  Presbytery. 

The  reason  for  writing  to  Rev.  Mr.  McGregorie  was  unquestion- 
ably the  fact  that  many  of  the  Pelham  men  who  had  settled  at  White 
Creek  were  acquainted  with  Mr.  McGregorie,  having  met  him  at  Pel- 
ham before  moving  to  the  state  of  New  York.     The  letter  follows. 

To  the  Reverend  Mr.  David  McGregorie 
Reverend  and  Dearly  Beloved  —  Grace  and  l^eace  be  Multiplied,  &c. 

This  Comes  to  you  by  the  hand  of  Dea.  Mc Mullen  A  Gentleman  Chosen 
and  Appointed  by  us  for  the  purpose  viz. — Once  more  to  Implore  your  pres- 
ence and  assistance,  in  our  Destitute  Circumstances  in  order  to  open  a  way 
for  the  rasettlemeat  of  the  Gospel  among  us  —  The  reason  which  induce  us 
to  send  for  yourself  Rather  than  for  any  other  of  our  Fathers  in  the  presby- 
tery are  our  Sensibility  of  your  more  peculiar  acquaintance  with  our  People, 
Backed  by  their  unanimous  Voice  for  you  in  particular, — We  hope  that  the 
knowledge  you  have  of  our  State,  the  Love  and  Regard  we  trust  you  bear 
for  us,  together  with  the  prospect  you  herein  have  of  the  promotion  of  the 
Interests  of  our  Common  Lord,  will  by  no  means  fail  to  preponderate  in  our 
Favor— and  that  our  Sister  Church  will  sympathise  with  us  so  far  as  cheer- 
fully to  part  with  you  till  you  can  come  over  to  our  Macedonia  once  more 
to  help  us,  since  we  hope  that  God  is  in  his  tender  providence  putting  an  end 
to  our  Difficulties  in  some  good  measure  and  that  this  is  one  of  the  Last 
times  we  shall  be  necessitated  to  entreat  your  presence  in  an  affair  of  like 
Nature.  For  further  particulars  Please  enquire  of  Deacon  McMuUen. 
And  now  that  God  may  incline  your  heart  to  assist  us.  Bring  you  safe  on 
your  Journey  and  make  your  Coming  and  our  concerns  to  terminate  Ultim- 
ately in  his  own  Glory  is  the  prayer  of  Reverend  Sir 

Vour  servants  in  Christ, 
John  Gray,  John  Savage,  Alexander  Tukxek,  James  Bekkv,  Elders. 


4o6  HISIORY    OK     I'Kl.HAM,     MASS. 

These  names  signed  to  the  above  letter  are  all  of  them  men  who 
had  only  recently  come  from  Pelham  and  joined  the  pioneers,  also 
from  Pelham,  who  first  took  up  lands  at  White  Creek  in  1761. 
John  Savage,  married  Eleanor  Hamilton  of  Rutland  Jan.    16,    1733. 

The  name  of  John  Savage  appears  on  the  records  of  Pelham  as 
early  as  1747  when  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town  at  the 
Presbytery. 

He  was  on  a  committee  to  provide  school  masters  April  30,  1751, 
was  moderator  of  a  town  meeting  in  1752.  was  on  a  committee  to 
see  about  legalizing  certain  town  meeting  actions,  1753,  was  on  com- 
mittee to  represent  the  town  at  the  Superior  C'ourt  at  Springfield, 
in  1757,  was  on  a  committee  whose  duty  it  was  to  make  answer  to  a 
petition  that  had  been  sent  to  the  General  Court  in  Jan.  1764. 

John  Savage  was  allowed  12  shillings  for  pasturing  horses  at  the 
ordination  of  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham  in  1764,  John  Savage 
and  James  Harkness  were  alloted  pew  No.  10  in  the  Old  Meeting 
House  at  l^elham  March  28.  1766. 

From  this  last  date  the  name  of  John  Savage  does  not  again 
appear  on  the  records  of  the  town,  nor  is  there  mention  of  his  leav- 
ing the  state  of  Massachusetts,  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  his 
removal  from  Pelham  in  1766.  Pelham  lost  an  able  and  valuable 
citizen  and  the  settlement  of  White  Creek  gained  one. 

John  Gray,  another  of  those  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  the 
letter  to  Mr.  McGregorie.  married  Martha  Savage.  April  17.  1755. 
His  connection  with  the  Savage  family  is  reason  sufficient  for  his 
being  at  White  Creek  at  about  the  same  date  as  John  Savage. 

Alexander  Turner  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Pelham  and 
drew  home  lot  No.  46,  and  built  a  sawmill. 

'Phe  surname  Berry  was  not  among  the  original  settlers  of  Pelham 
but  there  must  have  been  men  of  that  name  in  town  not  long  after 
the  first  settlers  took  up  the  tract,  and  there  never  has  been  a  time 
since  until  now  when  there  were  not  families  of  that  name  in  the  town 
or  its  immediate  vicinity. 

James  Turner  of  Pelham  was  married  to  Susannah  Thomas  of 
Worcester,  April  i,  1760.  Joshua  Conkey  and  Dinah  Dick,  both  of 
Pelham,  were  married  April  13.  1762.  These  last  are  the  two  young 
men  who  spent  the  summer  of  1761  on  lands  they  had  secured  at 
VV'hite  Creek,  onlv  one  of  them  married  at  the  time. 


SEITLEMENT    OF    SALEM,    N.     Y.  407 

Joseph  McCracken,  of  Worcester,  was  married  to  Sarah  Turner,  of 
Pelham,  Feb.  12,  1760.  Miss  Turner  was  doubtless  the  sister  of 
James  Turner.  McCracken  was  a  prominent  man  at  White  Creek 
and  a  captain  in  the  Revohitionary  war. 

Thomas  Morrison,  of  Londonderry,  N.  H..  was  married  to  Martha 
Clark,  of  Pelham,  Feb.  11.  1762.  He  was  an  early  settler  at  White 
Creek. 

Hamilton  McCollister,  the  companion  of  Conkey  and  Turner  on 
their  return  to  White  Creek  from  Pelham  in  the  spring  of  1762  and 
who  was  with  them  in  1764  when  they  made  the  new  settlement 
their  permanent  abiding  place,  came  back  to  Pelham  three  years- 
later,  and  was  married  to  Sarah  Dick,  Oct.   15,  1767. 

The  royal  grant  of  the  land  on  which  the  New  England  colony 
settled  was  given  August  17,  1764;  it  consisted  of  25,000  acres,  and 
was  granted  in  response  to  a  petition  presented  by  .Alexander  and 
James  Turner,  and  twenty-five  others  in  January  1763.  The  terms 
were  an  annual  quit-rent  of  two  shillings  for  each  hundred  acres, 
with  all  the  mines,  and  all  pine  trees  above  a  certain  size,  reserved 
to  the  crown.  One-half  of  this  tract  they  conveyed  by  deed  to  Oliver 
DeLancey  and  Peter  Dubois  of  New  York.  Following  the  plan  they 
knew  was  adopted  at  Pelham  twenty-five  years  previous,  the  tract  of 
land  was  divided  into  304  lots,  each  half  a  mile  long  and  containing 
88  acres.  Three  lots  drawn  by  DeLancey  and  Dubois  and  three 
belonging  to  '-the  proprietors"'  were  reserved  for  the  support  of  the 
minister  and  a  schoolmaster. 

The  colony  from  Ballibay,  Ireland,  that  came  in  1765,  purchased 
DeLancey's  and  Dubois's  land  under  Dr.  Clark  the  leader  of  the 
colony.  The  two  colonies,  viz.  the  Scotch  colony  from  P'allibay  and 
the  New  England  colony  lived  near  by  each  other  under  the  most 
friendly  relations  socially,  but  a  certain  society  rivalry  sprang  up 
between  them  and  prevented  them  from  joining  harmoniously  in  one 
church  organization  under  Rev.  Dr.  Clark  as  their  minister.  The 
New  England  colony  charged  the  people  of  the  Scotch  colony  with  a 
desire  to  secede  from  them.  A  document  drawn  up  by  Joshua  Con- 
key,  one  of  the  three  first  settlers  from  Pelham,  explaining  the 
purposes  of  the  New  England  colony,  bearing  as  an  endorsement 
"  The  petition  presented  to  Dr.  Clark  and  his  Elders,"  dated  Sept. 
16,  1771.  exhibits  to  some  extent  the  disturbed  feeling  existing. 
between  the  two  Presbyterian  bodies. 


4o8  HISIOkN'    OK     PELHAM,     MASS. 

"Whereas  we  for  sometime  have  had  it  in  our  hearts  to  lUiild  a  house  of  Pub- 
lick  Worship  for  God  &  for  fear  of  further  Disputes  &  Contention  we  think 
proper  to  enter  into  agreement  in  writing  as  we  have  hade  some  Evidence  of 
late  of  a  separation  by  those  who  take  to  themselves  the  name  of  seceders 
by  there  staying  from  publick  Worship  when  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
Signod  priched  in  this  place  who  was  Regerly  sent  forth  to  prich  and  admin- 
ister ordinances  wherever  he  might  be  cold  in  this  vacant  part  of  Gods  vin- 
yard — therefore  We  the  subscribers  do  unanomesiy  agree  to  joyn  in  build- 
ing a  house  for  the  Worship  of  God  with  those  who  subscrilie  tlie  foloing 
articles,  viz. 

1.  that  we  the  Subscribers  do  bind  our  selvs  we  shall  have  and  give  free 
liberty  to  ordain  or  install  a  minister  of  the  Philadelphia  Signod  or  one  in 
■connection  with  them  in  said  house  or  at  least  to  joyn  in  the  ordination  or 

Instalment  of  any  one  that  shall  be  coled  by  the  Majority  of  the   Inliabit- 
ance  of  this  place  that  subscrice  to  tliis. 

2.  that  we  shall  not  be  consigned  to  that  set  of  people  Coled  soceders. 
White  Creek,  i6  Jept.  1771. 

Joshua  Conkey,  James  Moor,  Alexander  'I'urner. 

Edward  Savage,  Hugh  Moor,  John  Ciray, 

Frances  Lammon,  John  Nevens,  Samuel  Hyndmand, 

Hamilton  McCollister,  John  Savage,  Edward  Long, 

Timothy  Titus,  James  Turner,  James  Savage, 

Ebenezer  Russell,  Joseph  McCracken,  Reuben  Turner, 

Daniel  McCollister,  Moses  Martin.  .  , ''^■'    ,,.  ,  , 

Launard  +   \V  ebb. 

The  foregoing  document  with  the  signatures  was  not  received 
•with  satisfaction  by  Dr.  Clark  and  his  people,  and  at  a  session  of 
that  society  it  was  taken  up  and  considered  carefully  and  replied  to. 

There  was  quite  a  little  spicy  correspondence  between  the  two 
societies  resulting  from  the  document  written  by  Joshua  Conkey  and 
the  result  was,  to  make  a  union  of  the  two  societies  impossible,  and 
the  New  England  colony  proceeded  to  carry  out  their  purpose  to 
continue  as  an  independent  organization  and  to  build  a  meeting  house 
for  their  own  use.  Their  first  meeting-house  was  sometime  building 
and  perhaps  not  used  much  previous  to  1774,  and  was  never  finished. 

They  began  to  worship  in  it  when  there  was  only  a  roof  to  protect 
them  from  the  weather,  and  before  the  sides  were  boarded  or  a  floor 
laid.  After  the  Revolutionary  war  broke  out  the  uncompleted  meet- 
ing hovise  was  used  first  as  a  barrack  by  the  patriot  forces  and  then 
strengthened  and  made  to  serve  as  a  fort.  Logs  set  close  together 
in  the  ground  made  a  stockade  about  sixty  feet  from  the  building 
and  extending  around  it,  and  was  finished  July  26,  1777.  The 
meeting  house  having  been  changed  into  a  fort  it  was  first  called   tiie 


.E.MENT    OF    SALEM,    N. 


409 


Salem  fort,  the  name  was  afterwards  changed  to  Fort  Williams,  in 
honor  of  Gen.  John  Williams. 

In  the  autumn  following  the  erection  of  the  stockade  all  the  peo- 
ple, save  perhaps  a  few  tories,  were  obliged  to  leave  the  place,  leaving 
their  homes  and  property  because  of  the  advance  of  Gen.  Burgoyne 
and  his  forces  upon  the  town.  The  meeting  house  fort  was  burned 
to  the  ground  during  the  last  days  of  August  or  early  September. 

Col.  Joseph  McCracken,  was  at  one  time  in  command  of  the  pat- 
riot forces  that  occupied  the  meeting  house  fort, — and  the  same  man 
already  referred  to  as  the  husband  of  Sarah  Turner  of  Pelham.  He 
was  a  brave  soldier  and  later  lost  an  arm  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  the  people  of  the  New  Eng- 
land colony  were  very  poor,having  lost  heavily  by  reason  of  Burgoyne's 
army  invading  the  town,  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  erect  a  meeting 
house  in  place  of  the  one  burned  for  about  ten  years,  and  in  the  mean 
time  they  worshiped  with  the  people  of  the  other  presbyterian  church 
or  had  a  minister  occasionally  to  preach  to  their  own  people. 

A  new  meeting  house  was  erected  on  the  same  lot  on  which  the 
first  one  stood,  and  a  part  of  Hamilton  McCollister's  original  tract, 
which  is  held  in  trust  by  the  society  for  use  as  a  church  and  for  no  other 
use.  In  1788,  Nov.  14,  Savage  and  Conkey  attorneys  for  the  propri- 
tors  executed  a  deed  which  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of  the  New  Eng- 
land congregation  the  three  lots,  numbered  91,  188,  and  192  "for  the 
sole  use  of  supporting  a  regular  gospel  minister  of  the  presbyterian  per- 
suasion belonging  to  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  in 
and  over  said  congregation  in  Salem."  The  second  meeting  house 
was  seventy-five  feet  long  and  sixty  feet  wide  with  the  pulpit  and 
sounding  board  on  one  side  of  the  audience  room,  and  the  pews  were 
the  usual  square  high  box-like  enclosures  of  the  olden  time. 

The  first  pastor  settled  over  this  church  was  the  Rev.  John  \^'ar- 
ford  of  Amwell  N.  J.  who  commenced  his  labors  in  1788,  laboring 
with  great  success  until  his  death  in  1802. 

The  original  membership  of  the  first  incorporated  presbyterian 
congregation  in  Salem,  the  one  founded  by  New  England  people, 
quite  a  number  of  whom  were  from  Pelham,  Mass.,  consisted  of  fifty- 
two  persons.  For  fifty  years  following  the  membership  is  said  not  to 
have  exceeded  one  hundred.  In  1828  there  was  a  membership  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty.  In  1832  the  number  had  increased  to  four 
hundred  and  twenty-six.     This  was  the  highest  number  ever  reached, 


410  HISTORY    OK    PF.LHAM,     MASS. 

and  from  that  time  the  decrease  in  membership  "began.  In  1842 
there  was  only  three  hundred  and  five  members,  in  1876  the  num- 
ber was  one  hundred  and  seventy-three,  and  a  little  over  two  hun- 
dred in  1896. 

The  little  settlement  begun  by  James  Turner  and  Joshua  Conkey  in 
1 76 1  makes  a  much  better  showing  to-day  than  the  old  town  of  Pel- 
ham  from  which  they  sallied  forth,  and  plunged  into  the  wilderness 
to  reach  and  establish  their  new  home. 

The  village  of  Salem  contains  about  twelve  hundred  inhabitants 
and  in  the  whole  town  there  was  about  four  thousand,  while  Pelham 
has  only  four  hundred  and  eighty-six.  The  main  facts  of  the  above 
sketch  of  the  settlement  of  Salem  were  gathered  from  The  Salem  Book 
printed  in  1896,  and  other  historical  pamphlets  relating  to  the  town 
of  Salem,  N.  Y. 

The  people  who  went  out  from  f'elhain  through  the  forests  to  begin 
a  new  settlement  at  White  Creek  were  quite  peaceable  men  and 
women  who  respected  the  rights  of  others  and  at  the  same  time 
resented  any  and  all  invasions  of  their  own  rights  and  privileges,  and 
would  not  hesitate  to  oppose  any  one  whom  they  believed  was  endea- 
voring in  any  way  to  prevent  the  full  enjoyment  of  their  liberties. 
They  made  no  exceptions  when  the  King's  officers  came  among  them 
armed  with  authority  from  the  King's  representatives,  if  they  knew 
the  charges  had  no  basis  of  fact  to  rest  upon  ;  any  officer  who  came 
among  them  under  such  circumstances  was  liable  to  meet  with  a  hot 
reception.  This  estimate  of  the  temper  of  Scotch  farmers  of  that 
time  is  borne  out  by  the  reception  extended  to  Sheriff  Solomon  Bolt- 
wood  of  Amherst  who  made  an  official  visit  to  Pelham  on  the  twelfth 
of  February  1762.  Just  what  his  official  business  may  have  been 
does  not  appear,  but  the  manner  in  which  he  was  received  makes  it 
quite  clear  that  the  official  errand  was  considered  an  affront  which 
justified  resistance  by  every  means  at  hand,  the  men  and  the  women 
taking  part  in  resisting  him,  the  weapons  selected  being  those  that 
were  most  handy  when  the  determination  to  resist  seized  them. 

The  resistance  to  the  sheriff  evidently  occured  on  the  twelfth  of 
February  1762,  but  the  record  of  the  trial  and  acquittal  is  dated  a 
year  later  and  is  copied  from  the  court  records  at  Northampton. 

•'Northampton  Kkii.   iS,  1763. 

De    Rf.X    VS    SAVA(!R   &c. 

John  Worthington  Esq.  Attorney  to  our  .Soverign  Lord  the  King  in  this 
I)eliall'  liere  instantly  complains  and  give  this  court  to  understand  and  be 
informed  that  John  Savage  of  Pelham  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  (ient. 


SETTLEMENT    OF    SALEM,    N.   Y.  411 

Alexander  Turner  Yeoman,  Alexander  Turner  Jun.  Yeoman,  James  Turner, 
Yeoman,  Rol)ert  Gilmore,  Yeoman,  Hamilton  McCollister,  Veqman,  Jane 
Savage,  Spinster,  wife  of  John  Savage  Jun.,  Elisibeth  Savage,  Spinster, 
Eleanor  McCollister,  Spinster,  and  Sarah  Drane,  Spinster,  all  of  Pelham 
aforesaid,  did  at  said  Pelham  on  the  12th  day  of  F'el)ruary  last  past,  with 
force  and  arms,  that  is  to  say,  with  Axes,  Clubs,  sticks,  hot  water  and  hot  soap 
in  a  riotous  and  tumultinous  manner  and  riotously  and  unlawfullv  meet  and 
assemble  themselves  together  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  said  Lord  the  King, 
and  the  said  John  Savage,  Alexander  Turner,  Alexander  Turner  Jun.,  James 
Turner,  Robert  Gilmore,  Hamilton  McCollister,  Jane  Savage,  Eleanor  Mc- 
Collister, Elisibeth  Savag-e,  and  Sarah  Drane,  being  so  met  and  assembled 
together  did  then  and  there  with  force  and  arms  made  an  assault' on  one 
Solomon  Boltwood  of  Amherst,  then,  and  ever  since  being  a  Deputy  Sheriff 
under  Oliver  Partridge  Esq.  Sheriff  of  said  County,  he  being  then  in  due 
execution  of  his  said  office  and  in  the  peace  of  God  and  of  the  said  Lord 
the  King,  and  then  and  there  uttered  menace  and  threatenings  of  bodily  hurt 
and  death  against  said  Solomon,  and  then  and  there,  with  force  and  arms 
obstructed,  opposed,  hindered  and  wholly  prevented  said  Solomon  from  the 
due  execution  of  his  said  office  contrary  to  law,  and  against  the  peace  of  the 
said  Lord  the  King,  his  crown  and  dignity,  and  now  comes  before  ye  court 
the  said  John  Savage,  Gent.,  and  Alexander  lirst  above  named,  the  said  Jane. 
Elisibeth.  and  Sarah  being  held  by  Recognisance  for  this  purpose,  the  said 
James.  Robert  and  ye  other  Alexander  not  being  present,  and  being  set  to 
the  bar  and  severally  put  to  plead  and  answer  to  the  premise,  they  the  said 
de'fts  severally  plead  that  they  were  in  nothing  guilty  of  the  same  and  thereof 
put  themselves  on  ye  County. 

A  Jury  being  sworn  according  to  law  to  try  the  issue  between  our  said 
Lord  the  King,  and  the  said  Def'ts  after  a  full  hearing  return  tlieir  \erdict 
therein,  that  is,  the  jury  on  their  oath  say  the  said  Def'ts  are  not  guilty.  It  is 
thereupon  ordered  that  the  Def'ts  be  dismissed  and  ye  go  without  day."' 

The  result  of  the  trial  being  a  verdict  of  not  guilty  for  the  heinous 
offence  charged  was  so  complete  a  vindication  of  those  whose  names 
appear  in  the  indictment  that  we  are  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
"  axes,  clubs,  sticks,  hot  water,  and  hot  soap  "  were  fit  weapons  for 
resistance  to  injustice  of  some  sort  at  the  hands  of  the  sheriff  of  said 
Lord  the  King. 

We  cannot  but  admire  the  grit  and  vim  displayed  by  these  men  and 
women  in  resistance  to  what  this  King's  officer  was  commissioned  to 
preform  if  they  knew  there  was  no  valid  reason  for  his  pre.sence  among 
them.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  case  of  justifiable  self  defence,  and 
the  jury  by  their  verdict  were  evidently  unaminous  in  that  view  of  the 
case.  A  year  later  and  some  of  the.se  men  and  women  started  out  on 
horseback  on  the  long  journey  through  the  forest  to  begin  the  settle- 
ment at  White  Creek  now  Salem,  Washington  county  N.  Y.  If  there 
could  have  been  any  question  of  their  qualifications  for  pioneering 
and  taking  care  of  themselves  in  a  new  .settlement  the  above  episode 
from  the  court  records  would  be  amply  suflicient  to  dispel  all  doubts 
on  that  score.  Not  all  of  the  self-reliant  and  plucky  men  and  women 
went  out  from  Pelham  to  White  Creek,  there  were  others  of  the  same 
self-reliant  positive  sort  left  in  the  old  town. 


Professional  and  Business  Men, 


NATIVES    OF    PELHAM. 


The  Southworths.  —  The  Southworth  family,  a  branch  of  which 
settled  in  Pelham  during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  and 
probably  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  is  traced  in  an  unbroken 
line  from  Sir  Gilbert  Southworth  of  Southworth  Hall,  Lancaster, 
England,  in  the  fourteenth  century  through  ten  generations  in 
that  country.  The  following  is  the  line  :  Sir  Gilbert,  Sir  John,  Sir 
Thomas,  Richard  Southworth  of  Salisbury,  Sir  Christopher,  Sir 
John,  Sir  Thomas  of  Warrington,  Richard  of  London.  Sir  Thomas, 
recorder  of  wills,  Somersetsthire,  to  Edward  who  in  159H  married 
Alice  Carpenter,  daughter  of  Alexander  Carpenter. 

Mr.  Edward  Southworth  with  his  two  sons  Thomas  and  Constant, 
fled  to  Holland  with  the  Pilgrim  Eathers  who  left  England  on 
account  of  the  persecution  of  Dissenters  by  the  Church  of  England. 
After  a  few  years  residence  in  the  city  of  Leyden  Mr.  Southworth 
died.  Alice  Southworth  the  widow  of  Edward  came  over  to  this 
country  in  1623  and  married  Governor  William  Bradford  second 
Governor  of  the  colony  at  Plymouth.  Her  sons  Thomas  and 
Constant  followed  their  mother  to  America  in  1628.  Constant  was 
born  in  16 14.  In  1639  he  married  Elizabeth  Coltier  of  Duxbury, 
and  three  sons  were  born  to  them   Edward,   Nathaniel  and  William. 

Edward,  son  of  Nathaniel,  had  four  sons,  Constant,  Edward,  Sam- 
uel and  Benjamin. 

Edward  married  Lydia  Packard,  J)ec.  16,  1750,  to  them  were  born 
Uriah,  Perez,  Desire,  Edward,  Abiah,  Bridget,  Lydia  and  Fear. 
All  of  these  children  of  Edward  and  Lydia,  except  Perez,  removed 
from   liridgewater  to  Pelham. 

Abiah  Southworth  married  Kesiah  Boltwood  of  Amherst  in    1794. 

Wells  Southworth.  —  Wa>  the  son  of  Dr.  Abiah  Southworth 
and  Kesiah  J^oltwood  Southworth,  and  was  born  in  Pelham 
August    17,  1799.      He  first  engaged   in  business  at  Pelham  in  1823 


.^D^ 


m^ 


WELLS    SOUTH  WORTH. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN. 


413 


as  a  merchant,  continuing  the  business  at  the  center  of  the  town 
until  1828  when  he  disposed  of  his  store  and  the  family  homestead 
without  consulting  his  father,  so  it  is  said.  Dr.  Southworth  was 
somewhat  disturbed  at  first,  but  having  such  great  confidence  in  his 
son's  good  judgement  and  business  foresight  that  he  acquisced  in 
the  business  change  thereby  necessitated,  and  the  family  removed  to 
South  Hadley  Falls,  where  Wells  opened  as  a  merchant. 

Wells  Southworth  removed  to  Chicopee  Falls  and  continued  in  the 
mercantile  line  until  1839  when  he  removed  to  Mittineague,  West 
Springfield,  where  he  built  a  mill  for  manufacturing  fine  writing 
papers,  now  owned  by  the  Southworth  Paper  Co.  and  for  many  years 
was  the  president  of  the  corporation. 

In  1 85 4  Mr.  Southworth  removed  from  West  Springfield  to  New 
Haven,  Conn.  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  he  organized  the 
City  of  New  Haven  Fire  Insurance  Company  and  was  president  of 
the  company  for  ten  years.  He  was  a  stockholder  and  director  in 
the  Tradesman's  Bank  of  New  Haven  for  many  years  from  its  organ- 
ization. Mr.  Southworth  was  also  a  large  stockholder  in  the  New 
York,  New  Haven  and  Hartford  railroad,  and  engaged  in  other 
business  enterprises.  In  early  life  he  was  a  Whig  in  politics  and 
later  a  republican  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  legisla- 
ture for  two  years  from  Springfield,  and  one  year  represented 
West  Springfield  in  the  House.  Mr.  Southworth  was  living  in  Pelham 
when  Amherst  College  was  established  at  Amherst  and  was  greatly 
interested  as  a  young  man  in  the  enterprise,  and  did  what  he  could 
to  aid  in  building  south  college,  the  first  building  erected.  He  drove 
a  yoke  of  cattle  from  Pelham  with  the  first  load  of  stone  delivered 
on  College  hill  for  the  foundation  of  south  dormitory,  and  they 
to-day  are  doing  their  part  in  supporting  the  walls  of  that  well 
known  and  most  ancient  building  on  the  college  grounds. 

Mr.  Southworth  was  married  three  times.  His  first  wife  was  Miss 
Rebecca  C.  Woodburn  of  Salem,  Mass.,  she  died  in  1839.  ^o^  his 
second  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Frances  R.  Lyon,  daughter  of  Mrs.  E. 
T.  Smith  of  South  Hadley.  In  1845  he  married  Miss  Harriet  M.. 
Jillet  of  Rome,  N.  Y. 

The  other  members  of  Dr.  Southworth's  family  were  as  follows  : 
Rufus,  Mary,  Edward  and  Martha. 

Rufus  was  born  in  1796  and  died  at  Charleston  S.  C.  in  1828.. 
28 


414  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Edward,  born  in  1804  and  died  in  1869.  Mary,  born  Nov.  6,  1797, 
died  in  Pelham,  1872.  Martha,  born  May  10,  1807,  married  Robert 
Curtis  of  Bridgewater. 

Dr.  Abiah  Southworth  died  at  South  Hadley  Falls,  Dec.  27,  1835. 
His  wife,  Kesiah  Boltwood,  died  in  April  of  the  same  year. 

Edward  Southworth,  son  of  Dr.  Abiah  Southworth,  and 
brother  of  Wells  and  Rufus  was  born  in  Pelham  July  3,  1804. 
Attended  the  public  schools  of  the  town  until  he  was  sixteen,  was  then 
sent  to  Amherst  academy  where  he  prepared  for  college.  He  entered 
Harvard  College  in  1822  and  was  gradviated  in  1826  in  a  class  which 
numbered  many  eminent  men  among  its  members.  After  graduation 
he  went  to  Charleston  S.  C.  as  instructor  in  ancient  languages,  in  an 
academy  which  his  brother  Rufus  had  established,  and  was  the  prin- 
cipal. Rufus  died  in  1828  at  32,  and  Edward  succeeded  him  as  prin- 
cipal of  the  school,  but  was  obliged  to  return  to  the  north  in 
1833  on  account  of  ill  health.  On  his  return  from  Charleston  he  was 
engaged  in  business  at  South  Hadley  Falls  for  several  years,  then 
removed  to  West  Springfield  and  with  his  brother  Wells  established 
The  Southworth  Manufacturing  Company,  for  making  fine  writing 
papers ;  was  postmaster  several  years  at  West  Springfield,  and  in 
1853  was  elected  as  representative  to  the  Legislature  and  served  two 
years.  He  waselected  state  senator  in  1854  but  would  not  take  his 
seat  which  had  been  contested  by  another  candidate,  although  the 
seat  was  accorded  to  him  and  against  his  opponent  by  vote  of  that 
honorable  body. 

With  his  cousin  John  H.  Southworth  of  Springfield  and  his  brother 
Wells  he  organized  the  Hampshire  Paper  Company  of  South  Hadley 
Falls,  and  The  Hampden  Paint  and  Chemical  Company  of  Springfield 
Mass  ;  was  treasurer  of  the  Southworth  Manufacturing  Company  ; 
director  of  the  Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company  of  Springfield, 
and  of  the  Agawam  bank  of  the  same  city,  and  of  the  Massasoit  paper 
company  of  Holyoke,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Hampden  Savings  Bank  of 
Springfield. 

He  was  a  trustee  of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary  from  its  opening 
until  his  death  in  1869  at  West  Springfield.  Mr.  Southworth  was 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  at 
West  Springfield  and  for  thirty  years  one  of  its  deacons. 

He  was  married  three  times  and  six  children  survived  him. 


EDWARD    SOUTHWOKTH. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  415 

Daniel  Thompson,  M.D.,  son  of  James  and  Matilda  Thompson, 
was  born  in  Pelham,  Jan.  14,  1800,  where  his  father  and  grandfather 
had  passed  most  of  their  lives  as  farmers.  The  maiden  name  of  his 
paternal  grandmother  was  Mary  Cowan,  a  surname  that  appears 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  town,  and  Mary  Cowan  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  His  mother  was  Matilda  Pierce  of  Middleboro,  Mass.  He 
was  educated  by  attendance  at  tlie  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  at  Amherst  Academy.  His  medical  education  was  obtained  at 
Northampton,  supplemented  by  the  full  course  of  lectures  at  the  Berk- 
shire Medical  Institution  at  Pittstield  during  the  years  from  1823  to 
1825. 

He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Pelham  in  1825  and 
remained  there  twelve  years.  In  1827  he  married  Caroline  A.  Hunt, 
daughter  of  Dr.  David  Hunt  of  Northampton,  and  in  1837  ^^• 
Thompson  removed  to  Northampton.  In  1839  he  entered  into 
copartnership  with  Dr.  Benjamin  Barrett,  with  whom  he  had  studied, 
and  they  were  associated  together  for  seven  years  when  Dr.  Barrett 
retired  from  active  practise,  and  from  the  firm. 

His  next  partner  in  business  was  his  brother  Dr.  James  Thompson 
also  a  native  of  Pelham,  and  the  brothers  were  associated  in  business 
until  the  death  of  Dr.  James,  Aug.  6,  1859.  Dr.  James  Thompson 
was  a  skillful  physician  and  had  an  extensive  practice  in  Northamp- 
ton and  vicinity.  After  the  death  of  Dr.  James,  Dr.  Daniel  naturally 
turned  to  his  nephew  Dr.  A.  W.  Thompson  who  was  then  admitted  to 
partnership  for  a  few  years,  and  then  it  was  dissolved,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  death  May  25,  1883,  he  pursued  his  chosen  profession 
alone. 

Dr.  Daniel  Thompson  was  a  skillful  and  successful  physician  who 
secured  a  competance  by  his  profession,  and  was  noted  for  gen- 
erosity and  liberality  in  the  use  of  the  means  he  had  gathered  during 
his  long  professional  career. 

Austin  W.  Thompson,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Pelham,  May 
22,  1834. 

His  father,  Peleg  P.  Thompson,  died  when  his  son  Austin  was  but 
four  years  old  and  the  boy  was  received  into  the  family  of  Dr.  Daniel 
Thompson  then  living  at  Pelham,  and  a  few  years  later  went  with 
the  Doctor's  family  to  Northampton. 

He  laid  the  foundation  of  his  education  by  attending  the  public 
schools  and  later  was  a  student  in  the  Northampton  Collegiate  Ins- 


41 6  HISJORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

titute.  After  finishing  his  course  at  the  Institute  he  decided  upon  a 
thorough  college  course  and  was  fitted  for  college  by  Rev.  Rufus 
Ellis. 

He  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1854,  having  the  "salutatory  " 
oration.  x'\fter  graduation  he  read  law  a  few  months  with  Judge 
Huntington.  Tiring  of  the  study  of  law  he  decided  to  turn  his 
attention  to  medicine  and  began  his  studies  with  his  uncle  Dr.  Dan- 
iel Thompson,  and  on  completing  them  began  practise,  making  a 
specialty  of  mental  diseases,  and  was  appointed  assistant  superin- 
tendent at  the  Northampton  Lunatic  Hospital,  which  he  held  for  two 
years. 

Resigning  his  position  on  account  of  failing  health  he  resumed 
general  practice,  and  later  established  the  institution  known  as  Shady 
Lawn,  a  medical  home  for  invalids. 

He  was  president  of  the  Hampshire  County  Medical  Society  in 
1856  and  1857,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical 
Society. 

Ira  P.  Rankin  was  born  in  Pelham,  Jan.  10,  181 7,  in  that  part 
of  the  town  known  as  "  The  Valley."  He  was  a  son  of  Zebina  Ran- 
kin. Zebina  Rankin's  ancestors  were  from  the  north  of  Ireland, 
where  many  of  the  people  of  Scotland  had  lived  previous  to  their 
coming  to  Massachusetts  and  to  Pelham.  The  surname  first  appears 
upon  the  records  written  Rinkin,  then  Rinken,  and  later  Rankin. 

Zebina  Rankin  removed  from  Pelham  to  Ohio  when  Ira  P.  was 
about  fourteen  years  of  age.  The  son  plead  with  his  father  to  be 
allowed  to  remain  in  Massachusetts  and  his  request  was  finally 
acceded  too.  After  the  removal  of  his  father  and  the  rest  of  the  fam- 
ily to  Ohio,  Ira  went  to  Enfield  and  entered  the  store  of  Oliver  Bry- 
ant, where  he  was  employed  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Rankin  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Bryant,  a  cousin  of  Wil- 
liam Cullen  Bryant  at  Northampton,  in  1841.  Mrs.  Rankin  died  in 
1881,  leaving  no  children.      From  Enfield  he  went  to  Boston. 

After  residing  in  Boston  for  nearly  twenty  years  he  removed  to 
San  Francisco.  This  was  about  the  year  1852,  soon  after  the  dic- 
covery  of  gold  and  the  rush  for  that  state  was  on. 

He  engaged  in  business  there,  was  successful,  became  a  member 
of  The  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  continued  a  member  for  twenty- 
seven  years;  was  a  prominent  church  man  and  a  liberal  giver  of  his 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN. 


417 


wealth  to  benevolent    purposes    originating  with    the   churches  and 
otherwise. 


IRA    p.    RANKIN. 


Mr.  Rankin  received  the  appointment  as  collector  of  the  port  of 
San  Francisco  from  President  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  performed  the 
duties  of  that  responsible  position  with  ability,  and  great  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  merchants  of  San  Francisco  as 
well  as  to  the  government  at  Washington. 

Mr.  Rankin's  first  business  venture  in  San  Francisco  was  in  a  gen- 
eral commission  firm  on  Front  street,  under  the  name  of  Rankin  &  Co. 
This  was  so  successful  that  after  a  few  years  he  was  enabled  to  sell 
out  at  a  profit  and  became  a  partner  in  the  Pacific  Iron  Works.  The 
firm  name,  Goddard  &  Co.,  was  changed  to  Rankin  &  Brayton  after 
his  entrance.  This  firm  was  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  on  the 
coast.  It  dealt  in  mining  machinery,  marine  and  milling  goods. 
After  many  years  Mr.  Rankin  absorbed  all  the  interests  of  the  firm, 


41 8  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

and  at  his  retirement,  when  the  Pacific  Iron  Works  became  absorbed 
in  the  Union  Works  he  was  sole  owner. 

The  political  interests  of  Mr.  Rankin  were  always  on  the  side  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  formation  of 
the  party  in  the  state.  Before  that  he  took  an  active  interest  in  the 
People's  party.  He  was  a  most  pronounced  Whig.  In  1856  and 
again  in  1875  he  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  Congress,  and 
was  defeated  each  time. 

The  positions  of  public  trust  that  Mr.  Rankin  has  filled  in  San 
Francisco  are  numerous.  He  was  one  of  the  original  Trustees  of  the 
College  of  California,  and  did  active  work  for  the  bill  incorporating 
it  as  a  University.  During  the  iron  moulders'  strike  Mr.  Rankin 
was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Manufacturers'  Association,  organized 
against  them.  For  twenty-seven  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  in  1889  was  its  President.  He  was  a 
Trustee  of  the  Lick  Trust,  and  President  and  life  member  of  the 
Mercantile  Library. 

Mr.  Rankin  was  actively  interested  in  philanthropic  matters,  and 
for  that  reason  was  many  years  a  Trustee  in  the  Society  for  the  Pre- 
vention of  Cruelty  to  Children,  the  Society  for  the  Prevention  of 
Cruelty  to  Animals,  and  the  Society  for  the  Suppression  of  Vice. 
He  was  Chairman  of  the  State  Board  of  Commissioners  for  selecting 
a  site  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  and  also  Chairman  of  the 
Building  Committee  of  the  same  institution.  He  was  I^resident  of 
the  Engineers'  and  Foundrymen's  Association,  of  San  Francisco,  and 
interested  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  iron  business. 

Mr.  Rankin  died  October  i,  1895.  highly  esteemed  as  a  business 
man  and  christian.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  many  of  the  first 
citizens  and  business  men  of  the  city  of  San  Francisco.  After  the 
close  of  the  exercises  a  stranger  stepped  forward  and  announced 
himself  as  Edward  Rankin,  a  brother  of  the  deceased. 

None  present  had  ever  seen  the  man  nor  had  anyone  ever  heard  of 
Ira  P.  having  a  brother  or  even  relatives  of  any  degree  nearer  than 
cousins.  The  stranger  backed  his  claims  by  offering  to  bring  for- 
ward proofs  of  his  kinship,  which  he  did  to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 
Edward  Rankin  proved  by  indisputable  facts  and  records  that  he 
was  a  son  of  Zebina  Rankin,  born  in  Ohio,  and  that  he  came  to 
California  about  three  years  after  Ira  came  from  Boston,  and  he  had 
resided    within   fifty    miles   of   San   Francisco   during   all  the   years, 


'^N^.; 


*t> 


I 


OR.   J.\.\ir-:S    DL  XLAI 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN, 


419 


since  1854.  He  had  known  of  his  brother  by  hearing  of  his  pro- 
minence as  a  business  man  and  public  officer,  but  had  not  taken  pains 
to  claim  blood  relationship  until  he  learned  of  the  death  of  his  dis- 
tinguished brother. 

Edward  Rankin  is  a  carpenter  by  trade.  An  industrious,  honest 
man. 

James  Dunlap,  M.  D.,  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  Dunlap, 
born  in  Pelham,  February  13,  1819. 

The  name  Dunlap  appears  on  the  records  of  the  town  as  early  as 
1743,  but  no  one  of  the  name  was  among  those  who  drew  home  lots 
after  the  first  survey  in  1739. 

The  family  is  of  Scotch  descent  and  the  Dunlap  farms  were  located 
about  a  mile  southwest  of  the  center  of  the  town.  There  appear 
upon  the  records  the  names  of  Andrew,  James,  and  William  Dunlap, 
besides  John  already  alluded  to.  William  was  familiarly  known  as 
Uncle  Billy,  and  was  noted  for  his  broad  Scotch  accent  in  conver- 
sation. Dr.  Dunlap  attended  the  district  schools  of  his  native  town 
and  became  a  teacher,  or  schoolmaster,  in  Pelham,  and  possibly  in 
other  nearby  towns.  He  was  a  student  at  Williston  Seminary,  in 
the  first  class  at  the  opening  of  the  institution,  and  fitted  for  admis- 
sion to  Amherst  College  and  entered  that  institution  in  1843,  where 
he  remained  until  1845.  Five  years  later  he  graduated  at  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  and  at  once 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Northampton,  where 
he  continued  actively  engaged  for  forty-five  years  or  more,  or  until 
his  death,  August  3,  1896. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Dr.  Dunlap  was  the  oldest  practising 
physician  in  the  city.  He  was  devoted  to  his  profession  and  never 
refused  to  answer  a  call  for  his  services,  whether  it  came  from  the 
rich  or  the  poor.  His  office  was  always  open  for  consultation  to 
those  who  needed  his  services,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life 
answered  calls  to  visit  the  sick  that  much  younger  men  in  the  pro- 
fession had  declined  because  of  the  distance,  the  cold  or  storm. 
He  never  took  a  vacation  from  his  business,  and  was  never  married. 
He  was  quiet  and  retiring  in  his  tastes,  was  rarely  seen  in  social  as- 
semblies, and  seldom  took  an  active  part  in  any  movement  of  public 
interest,  he  seemed  to  detest  anything  like  personal  publicity  and 
never  sought  to  gain  a  reputation  for  himself  by  the  common  methods 


420  HIST(JRY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

employed  by  many  good  men.  Dr.  Dunlap  never  sought  offices  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  yet  he  was  called  to  serve  as  a  director  in  the 
Hampshire  County  National  Bank  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation, 
and  held  the  position  until  he  resigned,  in  1880.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  Trustees  of  the  Hampshire  Savings  Bank  for  many  years,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  was  senior  Vice-president  of  the  institution. 
He  served  as  President  of  the  Hampshire  County  Medical  Society 
for  several  years  and  was  much  interested  in  everything  pertaining 
to  the  welfare  of  the  organization.  He  gave  much  time  and  atten- 
tion to  forwarding  the  establishment  of  the  Dickinson  Hospital,  was 
on  the  staff  of  hospital  physicians  and  was  cared  for  at  the  hospital 
during  the  last  weeks  of  his  life.  Owing  to  his  frugal  mode  of  life 
and  constant  attention  to  his  profession  he  succeeded  in  accumulating 
a  handsome  property  variously  estimated  at  from  $30,000  to  $50,- 
000  and  even  higher.  No  portion  of  his  property  was  donated  to 
the  city  or  to  public  institutions  but  was  distributed  by  will  to  rela- 
tives. 

Dr.  Dunlap  was  taken  ill  about  the  first  of  July,  and  believing  that 
the  pure  air  on  the  hill-tops  of  his  native  town  would  restore  him  to 
health  and  strength  again,  he  took  rooms  at  Hotel  Pelham,  and  re- 
mained about  a  week,  but  as  there  was  no  improvement,  he  was 
taken  back  to  Northampton,  and  was  cared  for  at  the  Dickinson 
Hospital  until  his  death. 

In  all  of  his  long  professional  life  at  Northampton  he  was  trusted 
and  respected  by  a  wide  circle  of  families  who  had  need  of  his  pro- 
fessional services,  and  outside  the  city,  in  the  surrounding  towns,  his 
services  were  also  in  demand;  and  in  some  families  he  had  been  called 
to  attend  the  sick  for  nearly  half  a  century.  During  his  long  life  his 
influence  was  given  in  favor  of  those  measures  that  were  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  people  among  whom  he  dwelt. 

The  Harkness  Family  was  one  of  note,  and  of  much  influence 
in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  as  well  as  in  the  social  relations  of  the 
section  in  which  they  lived.  They  were  earnest,  active,  industrious 
people,  thoroughly  honest  and  capable,  and  of  Scotch  descent. 
They  occupied  large  farms  in  the  western  part  of  the  town  and  their 
lands  extended  to  the  dividing  line  between  Amherst  and   Pelham. 

William  Harkness,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  vicinity,  was  the 
son  of  William  and  came  from  Scotland   to   Massachusetts  in    17 10, 


VS^-, 


mi  f^ 


DK.    HAK\EV    WILLSOX    IIARKXK.SS. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  42 1 

when  but  seven  years  old.  He  married  Ann  Gray,  July  28,  1748,  a 
daughter  of  one  of  the  Grays  who  settled  in  Pelham,  and  possibly 
this  was  the  reason  of  his  being  drawn  to  Pelham  after  the  settle- 
ment of  the  town. 

The  children  of  William  Harkness  were  John,  William,  David, 
James,  Daniel,  Jonathan  and  Nancy.  The  children  of  these  six  sons 
and  one  daughter  numbered  fifty,  forty-four  of  them  bearing  the  sur- 
name Harkness.  Nancy  Harkness  married  Dea.  Nathaniel  Sampson 
who  lived  on  the  farm  occupied  for  many  years  by  Rev.  John  Jones  in 
the  west  part  of  the  town.  Of  the  fifty  children  of  the  six  sons  and 
one  daughter  of  William  Harkness,  twenty-six  were  daughters,  and 
twenty-four  were  sons.  John  Harkness  had  eight  children  ;  William, 
seven  ;  David,  three  ;  James,  nine  ;  Daniel,  nine  ;  Jonathan,  eight;  and 
Nancy,  six.  The  descendants  had  nearly  all  removed  from  Pelham 
before  1850. 

The  descendants  of  these  Pelham-born  people  are  scattered  in 
almost  every  state  in  the  Union.  Huron  county,  Ohio,  Fulton  and 
Peoria  counties,  Illinois,  hold  many  of  he  descendants  of  James 
Harkness.  Descendants  of  John  are  more  widely  scattered  :  some 
in  California,  some  in  Utah,  others  in  Covington,  Tioga  county.  Pa., 
still  others  in  Elmira,  N.  Y.  Of  the  descendants  of  Nancy,  some 
went  to  Vermont,  others  are  scattered  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 
Descendants  of  Daniel  are  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and  in  Ohio. 
Descendants  of  William  are  found  in  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and 
in  Auburn,  N.  Y.  Daniel's  descendants  are  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois. 
While  those  of  David  and  Jonathan  are  not  as  definitely  located. 
The  following  sketches  of  members  of  the  Harkness  family  are  of 
the  descendants  of  John,  and  sons  of  John  jr.,  born  in  Pelham. 

A  son  of  William^  is  living  in  Biloxi,  La.  and  has  a  large  family. 
His  name  is  John  Harkness  and  he  removed  to  the  South  before  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion.  There  are  a  few  of  the  name  in  Amherst,  also 
descendants  of  William,  but  there  is  not  one  of  the  name  in  the  town 
whence  they  sprang,  in  short — 

■•  They  are  scattered  far  and  wide,  o'er  Mount  and  Stream  and  Sea." 

Harvey  Willson  Harkness,  M.  D.,  was  born  May  25,  182 1,  in 
the  farm  house  still  standing  on  the  south  side  of  the  county  road,  a 
little  west  of  the  site  of  the  Orient  House — the  farm  at  that  time  and 
for  some  years  previous,  being  a  part  of  a  large  tract  of  land   owned 


422  HisroRY  OK  pp:lha.m,   mass. 

by  the  Harknesses.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  town 
during  the  years  usually  devoted  to  getting  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  the  country  towns  at  that  time,supplementing  it  by  several  terms 
at  Williston  Seminary.  He  then  entered  upon  the  studv  of  medicine 
in  the  office  of  Drs.  Barrett  and  Thompson,  at  Northampton. 

Leaving  Northampton  he  went  to  the  Berkshire  Medical  College, 
at  Pittsfield.  where  he  graduated  in  1S47.  Dr.  Harkness  then  went 
west  and  located  in  St.  Joseph,  Missouri. 

When  the  news  of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  caused  the 
breaking  out  of  the  gold  fever  and  the  consequent  exodus  for  the 
newly  discovered  gold  fields,  in  1849,  Dr.  Harkness  with  others  set 
out  across  the  untravelled  plains  west  of  the  Missouri  with  ox-teams 
and  after  a  long  weary  journey,  the  party  arrived  in  California  in 
September  of  that  year. 

He  located  at  Sacramento  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession among  those  of  the  eagar  gold-diggers  who  fell  sick.  The 
town  increased  in  population  very  fast,  owing  to  the  influx  of  eastern 
men  in  search  of  gold,  and  soon  the  need  of  schools  forced  the  peo- 
ple to  organize  them  and  Dr.  Harkness  became  a  leader  in  the 
movement  which  resulted  in  establishing  a  permanent  system  of 
schools  in  the  City  of  Sacramento,  and  he  was  elected  the  first  school 
superintendent. 

The  citizens  of  Sacramento  appreciated  his  services  in  organizing 
and  superintendance  at  the  time,  and  a  few  years  since,  after  erecting 
a  fine  school  building,  named  it  the  Harkness  School  in  recognition 
of  his  services  for  the  schools  in  the  early  days,  and  that  the  memory 
of  his  services  might  be  kept  fresh  for  years  to  come. 

Dr.  Harkness  was  present  by  invitation  at  the  formal  opening  of 
the  Pacific  railroad,  May  10,  1869,  when  the  lines  were  connected 
that  made  passage  across  the  continemt  by  rail  possible,  and  in  be- 
half of  the  State  of  California,  presented  the  golden  spike  used  on 
that  occasion  in  making  the  final  connection  of  the  rails  of  the  two 
roads — one  having  been  built  from  California  east,  and  the  other 
over  the  mountains  and  across  the  plains  toward  the  west. 

Retiring  from  active  practice  of  his  profession  in  June,  1869,  he 
visited  Europe  and  the  East,  and  was  present  as  an  invited  guest  at 
the  opening  of  the  Suez  Canal,  on  the  17th  of  November  of  the 
same  year. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  423 

Having  retired  from  the  practice  of  medicine  Dr.  Harkness  devoted 
his  time  and  attention  to  scientific  investigation  and  removed  to  San 
Francisco.  Since  his  removal  to  San  Francisco  he  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences  for  the  past  fifteen 
years,  having  served  eight  years  as  its   President. 

In  1886.  and  while  Dr.  Harkness  was  President  of  the  Academy 
of  Sciences,  the  society  erected  a  magnificent  building  for  the  better 
accommodation  of  its  scientific  departments,  library  and  museum,  at 
an  expense  of  $450,000. 

Dr.  Harkness  has  spent  much  time  in  foreign  travel  for  pleasure 
and  scientific  investigation,  visiting  Europe  on  four  different  occas- 
ions, and  spending  two  winters  in  Northern  Africa. 

He  was  elected  a  life  member  of  the  British  Association  in  1877, 
and  is  honorary  member  of  several  European  scientific  societies. 

At  present,  though  76  years  of  age,  the  Doctor  is  serving  as  one  of 
the  Regents  of  the  Stanford  University,  and  is  actively  engaged  in 
microscopical  research  in  various  lines,  giving  special  attention  to  the 
Mypogaci  of  the  Pacific  coast. 

In  1895  Dr.  Harkness  declined  further  service  as  President  of  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  and  was  succeeded  by  Prof.  David  Starr 
Jordan. 

Martin  Kingman  Harkness,  a  brother  of  Dr.  H.  W.  Harkness, 
was  born  in  Pelham,  in  183  i,  at  the  farmhouse  on  the  highway  lead- 
ing from  the  county  road  at  West  Pelham  to  Belchertown,  known 
for  many  years  as  the  Sylvester  Jewett  place,  and  at  present  occupied 
by  Charles  P.  Jewett. 

Mr.  Harkness  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  town  and  at  17 
years  of  age  accompanied  his  brother  on  the  ox-team  journey  across 
the  plains  to  California  in  1849.  He  his  been  engaged  in  mining 
most  of  the  time  somewhere  in  the  mining  regions  of  the  Pacific 
slope,  and  for  the  past  twenty  years  has  been  a  resident  of  Salt  Lake 
City,  engaged  as  superintendent  for  a  Pittsburg  mining  company. 

Henry  Harkness,  youngest  brother  of  Dr.  H.  W.  Harkness,  was 
born  at  the  Sylvester  Jewett  farm,  near  the  western  line  of  Pelham, 
in  1833.  He  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home  farm  until  the  death 
of  his  oldest  brother  Sumner,  and  in  1852  set  out  for  California  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  to  join  his  brothers  already  there. 
He  engaged  in  mining  most  of  the  time  until  his  death  at  Auburn, 
Cal.  in  March,  1895. 


42  4  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Sumner  J.  Harkness,  son  of  Sumner  Harkness  and  a  nephew  of 
Dr.  H.  \y.  Harkness,  was  born  at  the  Jewett  farm  in  Pelham,  and 
joined  his  uncles  on  the  western  shore  of  the  continent  about  the 
year  1873.  He  is  a  resident  of  Scofiekl,  Utah.  Has  served  as  Judge 
of  Probate  and  is  engaged  in  mining  and  stock  raising. 

William  Pomeroy  Daniels  was  born  in  Pelham,  May  11,  1815. 
His  parents,  Joseph  and  Lucy  Daniels,  moved  to  Pelham  from  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  where  they  lived  on  a  farm  located  at  the  site  of  the 
present  Union  station.  Their  Pelham  residence  was  in  a  little  house 
near  the  Orient  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  to  the 
Methodist  church.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  had  almost  no  school 
privileges,  a  few  terms  at  the  district  school  being  the  limit  of  his 
opportunity.  Before  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  "  put  out  to 
work."  A  boy  of  that  age  to-day  would  count  it  a  hardship  to  be 
obliged  to  start  for  his  work  by  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with 
lunch  and  dinner  in  his  hand  to  be  eaten  frozen,  with  snow  deep  and 
no  companion  to  share  the  hours  and  then  to  chop  wood  in  the  wild- 
erness until  dark.  Such  was  the  experience  of  this  boy.  He  often 
told  of  it  in  later  days  but  with  no  consciousness  of  hardship  beyond 
the  loneliness  of  the  work.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  as  carpen- 
ter and  for  a  considerable  time  was  connected  with  the  factories  of 
Barre,  Mass.,  as  carpenter  and  repairer.  It  was  the  custom  in  those 
days  for  the  native  born  girls  to  be  factory  help  and  the  best  girls 
left  farm  and  country  villages  for  this  purpose.  Here  in  Barre  he 
became  acquainted  with  Miss  H.  Ann  Stark  of  Hanover,  N.  H.,  who 
became  his  wife  June  4,  1837.  They  began  their  home  life  on  a 
farm  in  Lyme,  N.  H.,  where  they  resided,  Mr.  Daniels  dividing  his 
time  between  the  farm  and  his  trade  as  carpenter,  until  1853,  when 
the  family  consisting  of  four  sons  and  one  daughter,  removed  to  Wor- 
cester, Mass.  Here  he  became  a  builder  and  contractor,  and  later 
a  lumber  merchant  owning  one  of  the  prosperous  lumber  yards  of  the 
growing  city.  He  never  sought  or  held  public  office,  but  was  known 
as  an  honorable  business  man,  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  city. 
Of  a  puritan  type  of  thought,  he  loved  his  Bible,  the  Lord's  Day  and 
his  Church.  During  the  later  years  of  his  life  he  was  a  large  and 
constant  contributor  to  Christian  institutions.  His  mind  early  turn- 
ed with  abhorance  to  the  iniquities  of  slavery  and  he  was  an  aboli- 
tionist long  before  the  war  appeared  as  arbiter  of  righteousness.      He 


JUDGE   ITIIAMAR    COX  KEY 


IK  I  lll-l,.\i 


1J(,|-,    1  I  li  A  MAR    ((IXKl'.V, 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  425 

gave  to  his  country  in  the  war  of  the  RebelHon  the  costly  offering  of 
two  sons,  both  victims  of  the  battle  field.  Then  he  gave  to  the  freed- 
men  of  the  south  his  hearty  sympathy  in  their  efforts  for  Christian 
education.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  in  those  days  when 
great  moral  questions  were  maintained  by  its  platform.  Many  far 
away  schools,  churches  and  christian  workers  shared  his  unostenta- 
tious charities.  He  delighted  to  give  loving  helpful  sympathy  to 
those  whom  the  less  thoughtful  might  overlook.  Of  a  quiet,  unde- 
monstrative temperament,  of  Quaker  origin,  his  life  was  one  of  deeds 
more  than  words.  In  the  summer  of  1873  during  a  season  of  ill 
health  he  felt  a  great  desire  to  spend  a  little  time  with  his  cousin 
Thomas  Buffum  of  Pelham.  Here  within  one  mile  of  his  birthplace, 
which  he  had  left  more  than  forty  years  before  as  a  lad,  he  died  on 
the  nineteenth  of  September,  1873,  aged  fifty-eight  years  and  five 
months.  His  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Hon.  Frank  T.  Blackmer, 
a  prominent  lawyer  in  Worcester.  One  of  his  sons  holds  an  influen- 
tial position  in  the  same  city  as  the  general  superintendent  of  the 
Washburn,  Moen  Manufacturing  Company.  The  other  son  is  an 
alumnus  of  Amherst  college  and  a  well  known  minister  of  the  Con- 
gregational denomination,  having  been  recently  elected  to  the  respon- 
sible position  of  corresponding  secretary  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  with  residence  in  I3oston. 

Ithamar  Conkey  was  the  seventh  son  of  John  Conkey  and  Mar- 
garet Abercrombie,  and  was  born  May  7,  1788,  there  were  besides, 
three  daughters.  His  father  was  a  leading  man  in  the  town,  and  his 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie,  the  first  settled 
minister  at  Pelham.  He  studied  law  with  Noah  Dickinson  Mattoon 
at  Amherst  and  opened  a  law  office  in  his  native  town  in  181 4.  He 
was  elected  town  clerk  of  Pelham  in  1S16  and  for  the  two  following 
years.  In  1818,  N.  D.  Mattoon  having  removed  to  the  west,  Mr. 
Conkey  succeeded  to  the  business  of  the  office  at  Amherst  and 
removed  to  Amherst ;  was  chosen  special  commissioner  for  Hamp- 
shire county  in  1828,  and  was  elected  county  commissioner  in  1830  ; 
was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  county  by  Lieut.  Governor 
Armstrong,  acting  as  Governor,  in  1834  and  held  the  office  contin- 
ually until  1858  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  convention  for 
the  revision  of  the  Constitution  in  1853.  Judge  Conkey  married 
Elizabeth  Clapp  Kellogg,  daughter  of  Deacon  John  Kellogg  of  North 


426  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Amherst,  Jan.  26,  1820.  Miss  Kellogg  lived  in  the  family  of  Gen. 
Ebenezer  Mattoon  from  the  age  of  seven  until  marriage,  her  mother, 
Roxana  Mattoon,  was  a  sister  of  the  General.  Judge  Conkey  had 
four  children,  but  all  died  when  quite  young  except  Ithamar  F.  Con- 
key,  who  studied  law  and  became  the  leading  lawyer  of  Amherst 
until  his  death  Aug.  S,  1875,  aged  52.  Judge  Conkey  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  Second  Congregational  church  and  his  residence  and 
law  office  were  in  that  part  of  the  town  known  as  East  Amherst.  He 
delivered  the  address  at  the  Centennial  celebration  of  the  incorpora- 
tion of  the  town  of  Pelham,  Jan.  16,  1843.  After  his  services  for 
twenty-eight  years  as  Judge  of  Probate,  he  retired  form  active  inter- 
est in  legal  business  and  directed  the  work  upon  his  farm  until  his 
death,  October  30,  1862.  He  was  the  last  of  the  family  of  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  children  of  John  and  Margaret  Conkey 
of  Pelham,  whose  names  follow  : 


Israel      l)or 

n  April, 

1774— 

•died  May, 

1814. 

Daniel 

.Sept., 

1775  — 

''      July. 

1855. 

Joshua         " 

Feb.. 

1777  — 

"       April, 

1790. 

John 

Dec, 

•77S- 

"       May, 

1853- 

Isaac           " 

Dec, 

17S0— 

1822. 

Sarah          " 

May, 

1782- 

"       June, 

1855- 

Eleazer      " 

Feb., 

17S4- 

»       Feb.. 

1808. 

Anna 

April, 

1786— 

Sept., 

1835- 

Ithamar      " 

May, 

17S8- 

"       Oct., 

1862. 

Mehitable  " 

Feb., 

1791  — 

" 

Adam  Johnson  was  a  son  of  Adam  Johnson,  one  of  the  original 
settlers  of  the  town  who  drew  home  lots  Nos.  34  and  52,  and  built 
his  house  on  No.  34,  which  is  the  farm  now  occupied  by  S.  F.  Arnold 
Esq.,  whose  house  can  be  seen  upon  the  Pelham  slope,  looking 
straight  east  from  Amherst  college.  It  was  on  this  farm  that  Adam 
Johnson  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  about  1753,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  live  on  the  home  lot,  No.  34,  until  1800,  when  he  disposed 
of  his  farm  to  Samuel  Arnold  for  ^3000.  He  was  somewhat  inca- 
pacitated for  the  heavy  farm  work  by  lameness,  which  was  probably 
the  cause  of  his  retiring  from  the  labors  of  the  farm.  Mr.  Johnson 
removed  to  the  Valley  and  afterwards  lived  on  the  John  Gray  farm, 
now  occupied  by  Levi  Moulton.  It  is  believed  that  he  had  other 
money  or  property  than  that  received  for  hi.s  farm,  and  having  no 
family  and  but  few  near  relatives,  save  perhaps  a  sister  and  one 
brother;   when  more    than  70  years  old  and  in  declining    health   the 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  427 

matter  of  the  disposition  of  his  property  became  a  question  for  con- 
sideration. Amherst  College  had  but  recently  been  incorporated 
and  had  erected  but  one  building,  (South  College)  and  was  in  sore 
need  of  a  chapel.  The  era  of  rich  men  and  liberal  donors  to  the 
struggling  college  had  not  arrived,  and  some  of  the  trustees  and 
friends  of  the  college  presented  the  great  need  of  a  chapel  to  Mr. 
Johnson  for  his  consideration  ;  and  either  at  first,  or  later,  the  prop- 
osition to  have  the  proposed  new  chapel  known  as  "Johnson 
Chapel,"  in  case  he  should  decide  to  bequeath  his  property  to  the 
trustees  for  use  in  erecting  the  much  needed  building,  was  added,  as 
an  inducement  or  appeal  which  they  hoped  would  be  effectual  in 
influencing  Mr.  Johnson  to  make  his  will  as  they  desired  to  have  him. 
The  trustees  were  successful.  Samuel  F.  Dickinson,  Esq.,  of 
Amherst,  who  had  made  frequent  calls  upon  Mr.  Johnson  to  present 
the  needs  of  the  college,  was  called  upon  to  write  the  will  which 
bequeathed  the  accumulations  of  a  lifetime  to  the  trustees  of  Amherst 
College.  There  was  but  a  few  thousand  dollars  but  it  was  probably 
the  largest  bequest  the  college  had  received  up  to  that  time. 

The  total  inventory  under  the  will  was  $6,559.12.  Of  this  sum 
$4,000  was  donated  for  the  use  of  "The  Collegiate  Charity  Institu- 
tion in  Amherst."  The  will  was  executed  on  the  6th  of  February, 
1823,  but  the  final  decision  that  the  will  should  stand  was  not  made 
by  the  court  until  1826,  owing  to  the  strong  and  persistent  attempt 
to  have  the  will  set  aside,  which  was  made  by  Thomas  Johnson,  the 
testator's  brother,  on  the  ground  that  undue  influence  had  been 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  testator,  who,  as  Thomas  claimed,  was  in  a 
weakened  and  unfit  condition  of  mind  to  dispose  of  his  property.  In 
1827,  Thomas  Johnson,  who  was  a  poor  man  living  in  Greenfield, 
having  been  cut  off  by  his  brother  Adam  with  a  paltry  legacy  of  $12, 
issued  a  pamphlet  of  twenty-four  pages,  entitled  "  The  Last  Will  and 
Testament  of  Thomas  Johnson  of  Greenfield,  County  of  Franklin,  in 
favour  of  the  Trustees  of  Amherst  College." 

In  this  last  will  Thomas  bequeathed  the  trustees  a  good  generous 
piece  of  his  mind  concerning  the  covetous  tactics  he  believed  had 
been  employed  in  getting  possession  of  his  brother  Adam's  property. 
The  pamphlet  abounds  in  Scripture  quotations  which  he  believed 
applicable  to  the  Amherst  trustees,  a  few  paragraphs  of  which  may 
be  interestino-  here. 


428  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

"  And  although  imperfection  cannot  keep  the  law  perfectly,  yet  if  we  are 
volunteers  in  coveting  and  taking  our  neighbors'  property,  contrary  to  the 
law  of  God,  then  the  transgressor  must  be  condemned  by  the  law :  which 
brings  me  to  consider  what  was  the  cause  of  dispute  between  the  heirs  of 
Adam  Johnson,  late  of  Pelham,  deceased,  and  the  trustees  of  Amherst  Col- 
lege; to  which  I  answer,  the  dispute  was  because  Amherst  trustees  were 
making  merchandise  of  the  poor,  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  all  of  which 
is  in  direct  opposition  to  God's  law,  which  brings  down  the  judgements  of 
God  in  this  world,  and  eternal  damnation,  which  the  word  of  God  makes 
manifest,  as  you  may  see.  2  Peter  ii-3  :  And  through  covetousness  shall 
they  with  feigned  words  make  merchandise  of  you,  whose  judgment  now  of 
a  long  time  lingereth  not,  and  their  damnation  slumbereth  not.  Secondly, 
Luke  20,  47  :  Which  devour  widows  houses,  and  for  a  show  make  long 
prayers  ;  the  same  shall  receive  greater  damnation.  Yea  Mathew  and  Mark 
give  the  same  account  respecting  damnation  to  hypocrites  and  devourers  of 
widows  houses.  See  Matt,  xxiii,  14:  Mark  xii,  40.  With  respect  to  cove- 
tousness, inspiration  saith : — There  is  a  generation  whose  teeth  are  as 
swords,  and  their  jaw  teeth  as  knives,  to  devour  the  poor  from  off  the  earth 
and  the  needy  from  among  men." 
The  closing  paragraph  follows  : 

"  Nevertheless,  as  Amherst  trustees  never  rested  until  they  got  the  princi- 
pal part  of  my  brothers  property  into  their  possession;  and  as  I  am  an  old 
man,  and  therefore  must  be  near  the  close  of  life,  and  my  earthly  property 
all  consumed,  yet  would  attempt  to  will  and  bequeath,  as  a  memorandum 
this  composition  of  Scripture  truth,  for  the  benefit  of  Amherst  Trustees, 
with  all  interested  in  the  college,  with  which  I  close  this  essay,  in  the  words 
of  the  Apostle  Paul,  namely.  Am  I  therefore  become  your  enemy,  because  I 
tell  you  the  Truth  ?— Thomas  Johnson." 

In  the  West  burying  ground,  at  the  head  of  Mr.  Johnson's  grave,  is 
a  plain  white  marble  slab  with  the  following  inscription:  "Adam 
Johnson,  Esq.  Died  August,  1823,  aged  70  years.  Erected  by  the 
trustees  of  Amherst  College  in  testimony  of  their  gratitude  for  the 
Johnson  Chapel." 

James  N.  Smith  only  son  of  James  Smith  and  Betsey  Otis  Smith 
was  born  in  Pelham,  March  25,  1826.  He  came  of  Revolutionary 
stock  and  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  maternal  line  of  James  Otis, 
well  known  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  and  persistent  opponents  of 
the  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  for  taxing  the  American  colonies. 

The  early  life  of  young  Smith  was  spent  at  Pelham  where  he  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  town. 
Later  he  attended  the  celebrated  Leicester  Academy  at  Leicester, 
Mass.,   from  which  he  was   graduated   and   while  quite  a  young  man 


COL.   JAMES    \.    SMITH. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  429 

went  West.  Before  going  west  he  engaged  in  railroad  building  by 
contract  and  it  was  while  engaged  in  building  a  railroad  at  Lock 
Haven,  Pa.  that  he  was  first  married,  but  his  first  experience  in  rail- 
road building  was  in  superintending  railroad  work  at  Willimantic, 
Conn.  He  was  engaged  in  railroad  building  at  Oskalousa,  la.  when 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out.  He  joined  the  7th  Iowa  regi- 
ment as  a  line  officer  and  hurried  to  the  front,  and  subsequently 
commanded  a  cavalry  regiment.  After  the  war  Colonel  Smith 
became  actively  engaged  in  railroad  building  again  in  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  the  New  England  and  Western  states,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Smith  &  Ripley.  When  Commodore  Vanderbilt  and  the 
men  associated  with  him  determined  upon  the  gigantic  scheme  for 
sinking  the  tracks  of  the  New  York  Central  and  Hudson  River  rail- 
road from  the  Grand  Central  station  toward  Harlem  the  contract  was 
awarded  to  Dillon,  Clyde  &  Co.,  Mr.  Clyde  being  the  active  manager 
of  the  work,  but  when  work  was  only  about  half  done  Mr.  Clyde  died 
and  Colonel  Smith  assumed  full  management  of  the  great  and  diffi- 
cult contract  which  he  completed.  Other  large  contracts  on  which. 
Colonel  Smith  was  engaged  were  :  The  extension  of  the  Delaware, 
Lackawanna  &  Western  road,  a  large  section  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
railway,  the  Enterprise,  Atlantic  Coast  &  Indian  River  railroad  in 
Florida,  besides  many  branch  lines  in  various  parts  of  the  country. 
Colonel  Smith  assisted  in  the  formation  of  the  Brooklyn,  Flatbush  & 
Coney  Island  railroad  company  and  built  the  road  as  sole  contractor,, 
and  served  for  sometime  as  President  of  the  company.  Among  his 
business  associates  were  many  of  the  leading  capitahsts  of  the  time 
in  New  York,  including  Hon.  William  H.  Barnum,  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  National  committee  and  Sidney  Dillon,  President  of  the 
Union  Pacific  railway,  who  was  his  brother-in-law.  Colonel  Smith 
contracted  for  the  double  tracking  of  the  Morris  &  Essex  railroad 
from  Madison  to  Morristown,  and  from  Dover,  N.  J.  to  Easton,  Pa. 
He  was  senior  partner  of  the  firm  that  built  the  Weekawken  tunnel 
for  the  West  Shore  road. 

Few  men  were  more  conspicuous  or  instrumental  in  developing  the 
railway  system  of  the  country,  and  none  more  conscientious  or  effi- 
cient in  the  execution  of  the  great  contracts  committed  to  him.  He 
was  a  man  of  prodigious  energy  and  of  great  executive  ability,  and 
noted  for  his  uncompromising  fidelity  to  his  professional  obligations.. 


43°  HISTORY    OF    PELHAIM,    INIASS. 

Politically,  Colonel  Smith  was  a  stalwart  republican.  As  a  warm 
friend  and  admirer  of  General  Grant  and  Roscoe  Conkling,  he 
always  clung  to  that  wing  of  the  party.  He  contributed  liberally 
always  for  the  legitimate  campaign  needs  of  the  party,  and  took  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  leadership  among  republicans  of  the  twentieth  ward  and 
frequently  represented  the  party  at  local  and  state  conventions.  He 
was  a  candidate  for  the  republican  congressional  nomination  in  the 
third  New  York  district  in  1884,  and  again  in  1886,  being  defeated 
the  first  time  by  Darwin  R.  James,  and  later  by  S.  V.  White,  but  he 
did  not  allow  defeat  to  cool  the  ardor  of  his  party  faith  and  interest. 
During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  W.  Ijeecher  at  Plymouth  church. 
Colonel  Smith  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  church  and  a  warm 
friend  of  the  people. 

His  city  residence  was  265  Clinton  Avenue,  Brooklyn.  His  sum- 
mer home  was  a  fine  farm  well  stocked  with  the  best  Holstein  and 
Alderney  cattle,  a  few  miles  out  of  Litchfield  Conn.,  and  it  was  to  his 
farm  that  he  retired  when  his  health  failed  him  and  he  had  failed 
to  receive  permanent  benefit  from  a  visit  to  Europe  and  treatment 
at  Carlsbad. 

Colonel  Smith  died  at  Litchfield  July  31,  1888.  He  was  married 
three  times. 

Nathaniel  Gray  was  the  son  of  John  Gray  and  Betsey  Rankin 
Gray,  and  was  born  at  Pelham  July  20,  1808.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  the  town  and  learned  the  trade  of  stone  cutter  as  did 
many  other  young  men  of  the  town,  and  worked  at  it  for  some  years 
before  his  marriage.  He  was  married  at  Brattleboro  Vt.,  Dec.  29, 
1832,  to  Miss  Emeline  A.  Hubbard,  daughter  of  Giles  Hubbard  of 
Sunderland.  In  1833  Mr.  Gray  and  wife  removed  to  the  city  of 
New  York,  where  he  continued  working  at  his  trade  for  six  years, 
and  then  became  a  local  missionary  in  the  employ  of  the  City  Tract 
Society  at  a  salary  of  $700  a  year.  He  was  a  member  of  the  West 
Presbyterian  church  of  that  city  and  was  elected  ruling  elder  in  1840. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  missionary  work  for  twelve  years,  and  in  1850 
removed  to  San  Francisco,  via  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  the  journey 
taking  the  time  from  February  12  until  June  12  on  account  of  delays 
and  sickness. 

In  1852  Mr.  Gray  was  elected  coroner  for  the  county  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  in  1863  was  elected  a  member  of  the  California  legislature 
on  the  independent  republican  ticket. 


NATHANIEL    (iKAV. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  43 1 

Much  of  his  time  was  devoted  to  the  interest  of  various  charitable 
institutions  of  the  city  and  state  and  he  served  in  them  as  follows  ; 
president  of  Old  Peoples  Home,  president  of  San  Francisco  Benevo- 
lent Society,  trustee  of  California  Bible  Society,  director  of  San  Fran- 
cisco Theological  Seminary,  director  of  California  Prison  Commis- 
sion, and  trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  Mr. 
Gray  was  successful  in  business  and  built  a  fine  residence  at  758 
Tenth  Street,  Oakland,  where  the  golden  wedding  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gray  was  celebrated  on  Dec.  29,  1882,  in  the  presence  two  hundred 
invited  guests,  among  them  was  his  brother  William  D.  Gray  and 
wife,  and  Mrs.  Harriett  Steuben.  The  latter  was  a  witness  of  the  mar- 
riage at  Brattleboro  fifty  years  before,  and  Mr.  W.  D.  Gray  was  a 
witness  of  the  marriage  of  William  W.  Oliver  and  Miss  Lorania  Gray, 
the  later  was  a  sister  of  Nathaniel  and  William,  at  Pelham,  Oct.  4, 
1826,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oliver  also  being  present  and  celebrated  the  fifty- 
six  anniversary  of  their  marriage. 

The  children  of  John  Gray,  father  of  Nathaniel  and  Lorania  inclu- 
ded also  the  following ;  Mary  Gray,  Ira  Gray,  Sarah  H.  Gray,  (after- 
wards Sarah  H.  Thompson,)  William  D.  Gray,  Hinckley  R.  Gray,  and 
Horace  Gray.  All  of  these  left  Pelham  early  in  life  except  Horace 
and  Mrs.  Sarah  H,  Thompson,  and  the  descendants  of  those  who  went 
out  from  their  native  town  are  scattered  in  the  states  of  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Kansas,  Nevada,  and 
California. 

The  children  of  Nathaniel  Gray  are  as  follows ;  Giles  H.  Gray,  a 
prominent  lawyer  of  San  Francisco,  Henry  M.  Gray,  Edwin  P.  Gray, 
George  D.  Gray  and  Emma  A.  Gray,  now  Mrs.  Cyrus  S.  Wright  of 
Oakland.  The  birth  place  of  Nathaniel  Gray  was  the  farm  in  that 
part  of  the  town  known  as  ''The  Valley"  on  which  is  situated  the 
quarry  from  which  so  many  building  stones  are  quarried,  and  known 
for  the  last  twenty  years  or  more  as  the  Joseph  G.  Ward  place.  John 
Gray  the  father  of  Nathaniel  lived  there  and  was  known  as  "Cooper  " 
John  Gray  to  distinguish  him  from  another  John  Gray,  son  of  Dea. 
Ebenezer  Gray,  who  lived  on  the  farm  near  by  now  owned  by  Levi 
Moulton,  who  was  known  as  "  Tanner  "  John  Gray.  "  Cooper"  John 
was  a  farmer  and  made  good  barrels,  "Tanner"  John  was  a  practical 
tanner  and  worked  at  the  business  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the 
farm.     Both  were  useful  men  in  the  community,  "  Cooper"  John  Gray 


432  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

and  "  Tanner  "  John  Gray  were  from  different  races  of  Grays  and  were 
not  related  to  each  other  by  blood. 

Nathaniel  Gray's  business  in  San  Francisco  was  that  of  under- 
taker; beginning  July  i,  1850,  and  continuing  until  his  death 
April  24,  1889,  and  during  that  time  he  attended  to  thirty  thousand 
five  hundred  and  forty-nine  burials.  He"  was  liberal  in  his  gifts  to 
educational  and  other  benevolent  institutions.  He  gave  $5000  to  the 
San  Francisco  Theological  Seminary  towards  the  endowment  of  a 
professorship,  and  other  property  now  valued  at  $30,000 ;  and  to 
educate  the  young  women  of  the  state  he  gave  Mills  Seminary,  in 
Alameda  county,  $10,000,  and  also  a  sum  sufficient  to  establish  a 
scholarship  so  that  at  least  one  young  woman  could  obtain  free 
tuition  ;  he  also  gave  a  site  for  the  hospital  for  children  and  training 
school  for  nurses,  but  the  many  smaller  gifts  would  aggregate  a  much 
larger  sum.  He  was  always  laboring  for  the  relief  of  the  needy  and 
the  distressed.  The  board  of  trustees  of  the  Old  Peoples  Home  of 
San  Francisco,  of  which  Mr.  Gray  was  president,  in  the  resolutions 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  gave  expressions  to  the  following :  "  An 
able  factor  in  every  Charitable  cause  in  which  he  took  part.  He  pos- 
sessed a  robust  constitution,  and  the  mind  of  a  pioneer  ot  the  city  of 
his  residence,  he  possessed  business  qualifications  which  made  him  the 
peer  of  the  business  men  of  his  day,  both  in  worldly  accomplishments 
and  success.  At  the  same  time  he  posesssed  a  religious  fervor,  an 
eminently  pious  character,  and  a  most  benevolent  and  charitable  dis- 
position to  the  poor,  the  aged,  the  sick,  and  the  oppressed,  which 
commanded  from  him  respect  alike  in  business  circles  and  is  Christ- 
ian brotherhood."  There  were  Grays  among  the  original  settlers  of 
Pelham,  and  there  have  been  families  of  that  name  in  town  until 
recent  years,  but  at  present  not  a  person  of  that  name  resides  in  town. 
In  1799  there  were  fourteen  voters  bearing  that  surname,  as  follows  : 
Jacob  Gray,  Mathew  Gray,  Ebenezer  Gray,  John  Gray,  Jonathan 
Gray,  Elliot  Gray,  Adam  C.  Gray,  Justin  Gray,  Daniel  Gray,  John 
Gray,  Thomas  Gray,  Patrick  Gray,  Moses  Gray  2d,  and  Joel  Gray. 

Israel  H,  Taylor.  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Pelham  181 1.  He  was  a 
son  of  John  Taylor  and  Martha  Thompson  Taylor.  The  family  con- 
sisting of  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  besides  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  there  were  Alfred,  John,  Stewart  and  James.  The  daughters 
were  Lucy,  afterwards  Mrs.  Lucy  Houston,  and  Martha,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Colton  of  Springfield. 


RI-:\-.    ALniX    (iROUT. 


UUFFUiM    r.KOOK. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  433 

Israel  laid  the  foundation  of  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  town  ;  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Daniel  Thompson 
of  Northampton,  who  was  at  that  time  associated  with  Dr.  Barrett. 
He  supplemented  his  study  with  Drs.  Thompson  and  Barrett  by 
attendance  at  the  Pittsfield  Medical  School,  and  later  by  attendance 
upon  medical  lectures  in  New  York  city.  He  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Pelham  in  1833. 

In  1842  he  married  Miss  Lavinia  C.  Crossett  of  Brescott,  and 
brought  his  wife  to  Pelham.  Dr.  Taylor  continued  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Pelham  until  1848,  when  he  removed  to  Amherst 
and  soon  increased  his  business  very  much,  at  the  same  time  con- 
tinued to  answer  calls  from  the  many  friends  he  had  left  in  his  native 
town.  He  continued  in  active  service  for  forty  years  after  his 
removal  to  Amherst,  making  a  total  of  fifty-five  years  of  active  ser- 
vice as  a  physician.  He  was  for  several  years  the  leading  physician 
in  the  town,  and  very  highly  respected  among  a  large  number  of  the 
citizens  of  the  town  in  whose  families  he  had  ministered  in  the  many 
years  of  his  residence  among  them.  His  kindly  cheerful  manner, 
while  making  professional  calls,  endeared  him  to  many  families  who 
looked  upon  him  as  a  kind  friend  as  well  as  family  physician.  For 
two  years  or  more  before  his  death  he  did  little  in  the  line  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  he  died  Oct.  15,  1890. 

Rev.  Aldin  Grout  was  a  son  of  Joel  and  Aseneth  Grout ;  he  was 
born  at  Pelham,  Mass.,  Sept.  2,  1803  ;  graduated  at  Amherst  College 
1831,  and  Andover  Seminary,  1834;  married  Miss  Hannah  Davis, 
Nov.  17,  1834  (who  died  in  1836);  ordained  at  Holden,  Mass.,  1834. 
He  sailed  from  Boston  Dec.  3,  1834,  on  the  bark  Burlington  with 
five  other  missionaries  and  their  wives,  sent  out  by  the  American 
Board  to  establish  a  mission  in  South  Africa,  or  rather  two  missions? 
but  both  among  the  Zulus.  One  was  to  be  in  the  interior,  and  the 
other  on  the  coast,  to  be  called  the  Maritime  Mission.  Rev.  David 
Lindley,  Rev.  H.  I.  Venable,  and  Dr.  Alexander  E.  Wilson,  with 
their  wives,  were  to  form  the  interior  mission,  while  Rev.  Aldin  Grout, 
Rev.  George  Champion,  and  Dr.  Newton  Adams,  with  their  wives, 
were  designated  to  Natal,  for  the  Maritime  Mission.  Landing 
together  at  Cape  Town,  Feb.  5,  1835,  the  first  company  went  to  the 
country  of  Umzilikaze  (Moselekatse)  who  was  the  father  of  Loben- 
gula,    the  Matabele    king.     But  this   mission    secured    no    foothold 


434  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     .MASS. 

among  the  Matabele.  The  other  party,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Grout,  Champion,  and  Adams,  reached  Port  Natal  (Durban)  Dec.  20, 
1S35,  and  after  visiting  the  Zulu  chief  Dingaan  received  permission 
to  remain  as  missionaries  among  his  people.  Two  years  later  the 
mission  was  broken  up  and  Messrs.  Grout  and  Champion  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1S38.  But  with  undaunted  courage  Mr.  Grout 
returned  to  Natal  in  1840,  remaining  for  thirty  years  in  the  Zulu 
Mission,  till,  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  he  retired  from  the 
work.  Of  the  twelve  persons  who  thus  commenced  work  among  the 
Zulus  only  one  is  now  living,  Mrs.  Venable,  residing  in  Kansas,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one.  Of  the  men,  the  last  to  be  called  from  earth 
was  Rev.  Aldin  Grout,  who  died  at  Springfield,  Mass.,  Feb.  12,  1894 
having  resided  there  since  he  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1870. 

In  the  beautiful  cemetery  at  Springfield.  Mass.,  there  may  now  be 
seen  a  plain  marble  shaft,  with  an  appropriate  inscription,  over  the 
grave  of  Rev.  Aldin  Grout.  A  most  interesting  fact  connected  with 
this  monument  is  that  it  was  erected  by  the  gifts  of  Zulus  in  South 
Africa  with  whom  Mr.  Grout  lived  and  labored  for  thirty-six  years. 
It  is  a  custom  among  the  Zulus,  when  a  friend  leaves  them  not  to 
return,  to  present  him  with  what  is  called  "grave  money,"  to  be  used 
in  procuring  a  suitable  burial.  When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grout  returned 
from  Natal  in  1870  such  a  gift  was  made  him  by  the  Zulus  of 
Umvoti.  This  sum  was  sufficient  to  meet  the  funeral  expenses  of 
Mr.  Grout  and  also  to  erect  this  comely  monument  at  Springfield. 

The  family  of  Joel  and  Aseneth  Grout  consisted  of  nine  children  : 
Martin  born  May  30,  1792  ;  settled  at  Grout's  Corner,  now  Millers  Falls. 
Rufus  born  March  13,  1794  ;  married  Clarissa  Hall. 

Aseneth  born ;  married  Whipple  Cook. 

Orpha  born ;  married  Mr.  Moon  of  Westfield. 

Orra  born  Oct.  17,  1800:  married  Malinda  Randall. 

Aldin  born  Sept.  2,  1S03  ;  married  ist,  Miss  Hannah  Davis;  2d.  Miss  Char- 
lotte Bailey. 
Austin  born  Nov.  26,  1S05  ;  married  Susan  Hall. 
Josiah  W.  born  July  24.  1809  ;  married  Harriett  Peck. 
Annis  born  March  4,  1813;  married  Samuel  Robbins. 

Albert  Brown  Robinson,  M.  D.,  is  the  son  of  Abial  Robinson 
and  Mary  Ann  Packard  Robinson  and  was  born  in  Pelham,  Mass., 
April  12,  1835.  At  the  age  of  twelve  years  his  parents  moved  to 
Ware  and  he  entered  the  high  school  there,  but  pursued  his  acade- 
mic studies  at  Monson,  Mass.,    and  was  graduated  at  the  University 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  435 

of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  medical  department,  in  the  year  1857.  He  prac- 
ticed in  Amherst,  Mass.,  a  few  months  and  then  settled  in  Holden, 
Mass.,  where  he  married  in  1859  the  daughter  of  the  late  Cyrus 
Chenery  of  New  York.  Her  great-grandfather  was  Dr.  Isaac 
Chenery,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  whose 
great-grandfather  was  Major  Logan  of  revolutionary  fame.  In 
August,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  loth 
Regiment  Mass.  Volunteers  (Col.  Briggs)  and  in  May  following  he 
was  commissioned  full  surgeon  of  the  same  regiment.  After  the 
expiration  of  the  three  years'  term  of  the  regiment's  enlistment,  June 
1864,  he,  with  the  regiment,  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
service  after  being  in  every  battle  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  from 
Gen.  McClellan  on  the  Peninsula  to  Gen.  Grant  at  Petersburg,  Va. 
The  next  month  he  was  commissioned  surgeon  of  the  42  nd  Regi- 
ment to  serve  100  days  at  the  defences  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
was  mustered  out  the  following  November.  In  April  1865  he  set- 
tled in  Boston  where  he  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion since.  In  the  autumn  of  1865  he  was  appointed  professor  of 
surgery  in  the  New  England  Female  Medical  College  of  Boston. 
In  1858  he  was  an  admitted  member  of  the  Mass.  Medical  society 
and  in  1865  a  member  of  the  Norfolk  District  Medical  society.  In 
1866  a  comrade  and  surgeon  of  Post  26,  Grand  Army  of  the  Repub- 
lic. In  1867,  was  made  a  mason  of  Washington  Lodge  F.  &  A.  M. 
During  his  residence  in  Boston  he  has  been  medical  examiner  for 
various  insurance  companies  and  beneficiary  associations,  and  is  at 
present  a  member  of  many  literary  and  secret  societies. 

William  Smith  Otis,  the  inventor  of  the  steam  shovel,  or  the  Amer- 
ican steam  excavator  (as  styled  in  the  patent),  was  the  son  of  Isaac 
Otis  and  Tryphina  Smith  Otis,  and  was  born  in  Pelham  Mass.,  Sep- 
tember 20,  18 13.  He  came  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock;  both  of 
his  grandfathers  having  been  soldiers  in  our  Revolutionary  army  ; 
his  maternal  grandfather  having  resided  and  died  in  Pelham. 

At  the  time  of  his  invention  he  was  residing  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
engaged  in  railroad  construction,  and  he  patented  it  about  1836. 
The  first  machines  were  built  by  Eastwick  &  Harrison  (the  firm  that 
under  the  style  of  Harrison,  Wynans  &  Eastwick,  went  to  Russia, 
where  they  constructed  all  of  the  locomotives  and  rolling  stock  for 
the  St.  Petersburg  &  Moscow  R.  R.,  a  road  over  four  hundred  miles 


436 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 


long,  and  where  they  accumulated  large  fortunes).  The  Russian 
government  bought  two  of  the  excavators  (built  by  E.  &  H.  in  Phila- 
delphia), which  were  used  in  the  construction  of  this  road. 


mm  mmm  Bmm  iMMMm. 

The  first  steam  excavator  was  used  by  Mr.  Otis  on  a  contract  on 
the  B.  &  O.  R.  R.  somewhere  in  Maryland,  and  the  second  near 
Springfield,  Mass.,  on  the  Boston  &  Albany  R.  R.  in  1837, -'38, -'39. 
A  machine  was  sent  with  an  agent  to  England  about  this  time,  but 
the  English  contractors  refused  to  use  it,  though  since  the  expiration 
of  the  patent  they  have  constructed  and  used  large  numbers,  about 
twenty  having  been  employed  on  the  excavations  of  the  Liverpool  & 
Manchester  canal.  One  was  sold  to  the  Peruvian  government,  which 
they  used  on  one  of  their  Guano  islands,  in  excavating  and  loading 
into  cars  the  fertilizer  deposited  by  the  birds.  The  French  and 
Germans  have  also  built  and  used  many  of  them,  in  fact,  they  are 
used  the  world  over  where  ever  any  heavy  excavations  are  to  be  made. 

Mr.  Otis  was  the  first  person  to  hang  a  shovel  on  a  revolving 
crane,  and  was  the  progenitor  of  a  large  class  of  dredges  used  in 
excavating  hard  material. 

At  the  time  of  his  invention,  engines  and  boilers  were  large  and 
clumsy,  entirely  unsuited  for  the  excavator,  and  Mr.  Otis  designed  an 
engine  and  boiler  of  the  style  in  use  at  this  day  ;  the  only  improve- 
ment made  since  his  death  in  steam  excavators  has  been  in  enlarging 
and  strengthening  them.     The  most  of  our  prominent  railroads  own 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  437 

one  or  more  of  them,  using  them  in  their  gravel  pits,  and  they  are 
employed  on  some  of  the  Lake  Superior  iron  mines  in  digging  the  ore. 

William  S.  Otis,  while  engaged  in  constructing  a  portion  of  the 
Boston  &  Providence  R.  R.  near  Canton,  Mass.,  married  on  June  23, 
1835,  Miss  Elizabeth  Everett,  daughter  of  Leonard  Everett,  a  mer- 
chant of  that  place.  They  had  two  daughters  and  one  son,  the  latter 
died  in  infancy,  and  one  of  the  daughters  at  an  early  age  ;  the  oldest, 
Helen  E.,  married  John  D.  Dunbar,  of  Canton,  Mass.,  April  4,  1855. 
They  are  both  deceased,  leaving  several  sons,  one  of  whom  is  an 
employee  of  the  Pennsylvania  R.  R.  at  Altoona,  Pa.,  and  the  others 
are  doing  well.  Mr.  Otis  died  in  Westfield,  Mass,  November  13, 
1839,  ^ged  26  years,  one  month,  and  23  days. 

Isaac  Otis  was  the  fourth  of  that  name,  and  the  seventh  generation 
in  descent  from  the  first  settler  who  came  from  England  in  1635. 

William  Smith  Otis  was  the  oldest  of  eleven  children.  His  mother 
being  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Oliver  Smith  of  Pelham,  but  she  was 
born  in  Walpole. 

John  Otis,  the  first  of  that  name  in  this  country,  settled  near  Otis 
Hill  in  Hingham  Mass.,  and  was  the  son  of  Richard  Otis  of  County 
Somerset,  England.  John  Otis,  first,  had  a  son  John  second,  who 
had  four  sons,  viz  :  John,  Stephen,  Joseph,  and  Job.  From  John 
many  noted  men  have  descended,  among  them  James  Otis  the  "patriot 
of  the  Revolution,"  and  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  first  Mayor  of  Boston, 
and  a  United  States  Senator. 

Capt.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  youngest  son  of  Rev.  Robert  Aber- 
crombie,  was  born  in  Pelham,  Mass.,  Sept.  30,  1759.  When  a  lad  he 
went  to  Brookline  and  lived  with  Mr.  William  Hyslop,  a  wealthy 
Englishman  and  friend  of  Rev.  Robert.  In  his  early  manhood  he 
returned  to  Pelham.  He  married  Martha  McCulloch,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Sarah  (Cowan)  McCulloch,  June  26,  1790.  They  lived 
in  the  old  parsonage  for  many  years,  and  at  the  parsonage  their  nine 
children  were  born.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  presence,  erect  and 
stately  in  figure.  He  filled  many  ofiices  of  honor  and  trust  in  the 
town  and  county  before  his  removal  from  town.  He  represented 
the  town  in  the  General  Court  in  1799,  1800.  1801,  1S02.  1804,  1806, 
1809  and  1819  ;  was  on  the  board  of  selectmen  often  and  was  com- 
missioned a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Hampshire  and  Hampden  coun- 
ties, and  a  captain  in  the  militia.     He  removed  from  his  native  town 


438  HISrORY    OK    PELHAM,     MASS. 

to   New  Salem  first,  and  then  to   Greenfield  and    Deerfield  where  he 
died  Dec.  4,  1847. 

Isaac  Abercrombie  was  a  much  respected  and  influential  citizen, 
and  noted  for  his  strength  of  mind.  His  service  in  the  Revolution 
was  while  living  at  Brookline,  consequently  his  name  does  not 
appear  among  the  list  from  Pelham.  David,  Samuel.  John  and 
James,  sons  of  Rev.  Robert,  also  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
David,  the  eldest  son,  was  in  the  battles  of  Bunker  Hill,  Stillwater, 
Saratoga  and  Ticonderoga  ;  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  British,  sent 
to  England  and  never  returned.  It  is  claimed  that  few,  if  any,  able- 
bodied  men  remained  in  Pelham  during  the  war — the  old  men,  and 
the  women  doing  what  work  was  done  on  the  farms. 

Otis  Abercrombie,  M.  D.,  son  of  Capt.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  was 
born  in  Pelham,  June  25,  1802.  He  married  Dorothy  Lovina, 
daughter  of  Major  Daniel  and  Mary  (Sawyer)  Putnam  of  Lunen- 
burg, Mass.,  June  16,  1S35.  He  was  graduated  at  Williams  College 
in  1823  and  began  the  study  of  medicine  at  the  Medical  School  in 
Riclimond,  Va.,  and  finished  his  studies  at  New  Haven,  Conn., 
receiving  his  degree  in  1827.  Later  in  that  year  he  was  licensed  to 
practice  medicine  by  the  Mass.  Medical  Society  and  located  in  Ash- 
burnham,  Mass.  He  removed  to  Fitchburg  in  1829  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  Dr.  Jonas  A.  Marshall.  After  nine  years  of  successful 
practice  in  Fitchburg,  failing  health  obliged  him  to  retire  from  active 
practice  and  he  removed  to  Lunenburg.  At  the  last  named  town  he 
was  postmaster  for  several  years,  served  on  the  board  of  selectmen 
and  took  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  Dr.  Abercrombie  died  at 
Lunenburg,  Jan.  24,  185 1. 

Ira  Abercrombie,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  Pelham,  Jan.  28, 
1805.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  town  and  at  New 
Salem  Academy  ;  taught  school  when  a  young  man  ;  went  to  Houlton, 
Me.,  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  ;  returned  to  Massachusetts  and  engaged  in 
trade  at  Deerfield  (Cheapside)  with  his  brother  Isaac.  They  were 
also  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Connecticut  river.  Mr.  Abercrombie 
became  prominent  in  town,  served  as  selectman  in  Deerfield  for  six 
years  and  often  moderator  of  the  town  meetings  ;  represented  the 
town  in  the  General  Court  in  [850  and  1861  ;  served  as  trustee  of 
the  Smith  Charities;  was  state  director  of  the  Troy  &  Boston  R. 
R.;  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Franklin  County  bank,  then  a 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  439 

director.  In  1863,  was  chosen  president,  a  position  which  he  held 
until  his  death  July  14,  1870.  He  was  also  trustee  of  the  Greenfield 
Savings  bank.  Ira  and  Isaac  were  never  married,  a  sister  being 
their  housekeeper  for  many  years. 

Asiel  Abercrombie,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  Pelham,  Oct.  21, 
1807.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  town  and  at  New 
Salem  Academy;  worked  on  the  farm  in  Pelham;  removed  to  New 
Salem  where  he  was  a  merchant ;  moved  to  Deerfield  (Cheapside) 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  until  the  railroads  were 
opened.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  Mr.  Abercrom- 
bie was  not  in  public  office  very  much.  He  was  a  director  in  the 
Franklin  County  National  bank  at  Greenfield,  also  a  trustee  of  the 
Greenfield  Savings  bank,  and  a  trustee  of  the  Deerfield  Academy 
until  his  death,  March  10,  1874.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  B. 
Fuller  of  Deerfield. 

Isaac  Abercrombie,  son  of  Isaac,  was  born  in  Pelham,  July  20, 
1793.  His  education  was  obtained  at  the  common  schools,  and  at 
New  Salem  Academy.  He  taught  school  in  the  neighboring  towns 
in  winter.  For  one  term  in  Ludlow  his  pay  was  a  "  Straight  rifle  " 
which  he  treasured  all  his  life,  and  bequeathed  it  to  a  nephew  by  will. 
His  father  was  interested  in  a  tract  of  land  conveyed  by  Robert 
Brooks,  governor  of  Virginia,  in  Lewis  and  Randolph  counties,  by 
patent  dated  Richmond,  Nov  7,  1796. 

The  grantees  met  at  South  Hadley,  June  3,  1810,  and  "drew  by 
lot"  their  several  portions.  Isaac  was  sent  to  Virginia  in  1814, 
with  others,  to  locate  the  shares  of  land.  The  trip  was  made  on 
horseback,  he  having  been  furnished  with  a  certificate  of  good  moral 
character  by  Daniel  Stebbins,  Notary  Public,  of  Northampton.  Two 
trips  to  Virginia  were  made  on  business  connected  with  these  lands. 

Mr.  Abercrombie  was  a  deputy  sheriff  in  Hampshire  county  for 
several  years  before  removing  to  Greenfield,  Mass.,  where  he  held  the 
position  of  deputy  sheriff  and  jailer  under  Epaphras  Hoyt,  Sheriff  in 
1828.  He  was  also  interested,  with  others,  in  running  a  line  of 
mail  stages  between  Boston,  Troy  and  Albany.  Selling  out  his 
interest  in  the  stage  route  he  engaged  in  trade  with  his  brother  Ira, 
at  Deerfield,  (Cheapside.)  The  firm  did  an  extensive  wholesale  and 
retail  business,  extending  over  a  large  portion  of  the  county  and  into 
Vermont.       They    ran  a  line  of    boats    on    the    Connecticut    river, 


440 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


between  Cheapside  and  Hartford,  loading  with  country  produce  on 
the  down  trip,  and  general  merchandise  on  the  return.  The  open- 
ing of  the  Connecticut  River  R.  R.  in  1S46  destroyed  their  trade  and 
boating  business.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  care  of  his 
property  and  to  farming.  He  held  offices  in  the  town  of  Deerfield  ; 
was  director  in  the  Greenfield  bank,  and  trustee  of  the  Smith  Charities. 
In  business  circles  he  was  known  as  a  man  of  strict  integrity.  He 
died  at  Deerfield,  Sept.  10,  1872. 

Thomas  Buffum  was  born  in  Pelham  in  August,  1846,  the  son  of 
Thomas  Buffum.  He  spent  his  boyhood  there  and  obtained  a  com- 
mon school  education.     When  he  was  eighteen  years  old  he  went  to 


THOMAS    BUFKUM. 


Easthampton  and  began  work  under  Edmund  H.  Sawyer  in  the 
Nashawannuck  mills.  He  began  at  the  bottom  and  worked  up, 
learning  the  entire  business.  In  a  few  years  he  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  finishing  department  and   this  position   he  held  for  26  years. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  441 

He  possessed  a  large  amount  of  executive  ability,  and  he  was  a  man 
who  was  not  satisfied  with  allowing  things  to  drift,  but  rather  took 
delight  in  driving  things.  He  was  one  of  that  class  of  men  who 
achieve  results  when  they  set  out  on  a  given  line.  Mr.  Buffum  was 
of  jovial  nature,  and  loved  congenial  companionship  and  sociability. 
He  went  about  much,  and  was  known  in  every  town  up  and  down 
the  valley.  He  was  a  shrewd  business  man,  and  was  always  a 
steady  worker.  He  was  generous  and  kind-hearted,  and  the  people 
who  worked  under  him  in  Easthampton  were  his  friends.  This  was 
shown  by  the  presents  that  were  given  him  and  the  kind  words  that 
were  spoken  by  the  employes  at  the  time  he  severed  his  connection 
with  the  company.  He  possessed  a  power  for  observation,  and  with 
his  travels  accumulated  a  vast  amount  of  knowledge,  especially  of 
men  and  human  nature.  His  hobby  was  a  good  driving  horse,  and 
"  Handsome  Tom,"  as  he  was  familiarly  known  about  the  county, 
was  never  known  to  drive  a  slow  horse.  He  resigned  his  position  at 
the  Nashawannuck  mills  in  1895,  and  since  then  he  had  been  con- 
nected with  Dibble  &  Warner  in  the  same  business.  He  was  with 
this  firm  at  the  time  he  was  taken  with  his  last  sickness.  He  was 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Martin 
Graves  of  Northampton.  They  were  married  in  1870.  His  second 
wife  was  Miss  Sarah  Chase  of  Easthampton.  Mr.  Buffum  removed 
to  Northampton  in  the  autumn  of  1896  where  he  died  on  the  iSth 
of  February,  1897. 

James  M.  Cowan,  born  in  Pelham,  August  5,  1827,  was  the  son 
of  John  Cowan  and  Susan  Hildreth.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
in  Pelham,  and  afterward  learned  the  machinist's  trade.  He  went  to 
Chicopee  Falls  in  1852,  where  he  ran  a  grist  mill  for  two  years.  He 
returned  to  Pelham  at  the  end  of  that  time  and  began  the  manufac- 
ture of  bobbins  and  spools  for  cotton  and  woolen  factories.  The 
firm  name  was  James  M.  Cowan  &  Co.,  his  partner  being  L.  M.  Hills 
of  Amherst,  at  that  time  the  president  of  the  First  National  bank  in 
that  town.  The  business  was  a  profitable  one,  especially  during  the 
war,  and  the  firm  built  up  a  large  business.  He  sold  his  interest  in 
the  mill  in  1867  to  his  partner  and  removed  to  Springfield,  where  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Boston  &  Albany  railroad  as  foreman  of 
the  car  shops.  He  gave  up  this  position  and  went  in  business  for 
himself  about  1875,  being  engaged  in  the  retail  meat  and  coal  trade. 


442  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

He  afterward  gave  up  the  meat  business  and  had  been  engaged  in 
handling  coal  until  the  time  of  his  illness.  His  yards  are  along  the 
Boston  &  Albany  railroad  tracks.  He  formerly  occupied  the  entire 
ground  on  Lyman  street  where  the  station  now  stands.  He  had  a 
branch  yard  on  the  New  England  road  opened  in  1893,  where  he 
received  his  Lehigh  coal.  Mr.  Cowan  was  successful  in  business, 
confining  his  energies  to  the  one  line.  It  was  while  living  in  his 
native  town  that  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  selectmen,  he  was  able  to  render  the  town  valua- 
ble service  in  filling  the  quota  of  men  called  for  from  time  to  time 
during  the  war.  He  also  rendered  much  assistance  in  support  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  the  center  of  the  town,  and  it  was 
largely  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Cowan  that  the  bell,  now  hanging 
in  the  steeple  of  the  church,  was  secured  and  placed  in  position. 

Mr.  Cowan  was  a  member  of  the  North  church,  Springfield  but 
sometimes  attended  the  Park  church,  near  his  home.  He  was  much 
interested  in  church  and  missionary  enterprises  and  until  recent  years 
had  been  an  active  worker  in  the  railroad  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Almariah  Bartlett  of  Enfield, 
Mass.,  and  he  was  married  to  her  in  May,  185 1  ;  she  died  Aug.  5, 
1862.  His  second  wife,  who  was  Miss  Ellen  Mitchell  of  Palmer, 
survives  him  with  two  children.  Miss  Mary  E.  Cowan,  and  J.  Edward 
Cowan,  who  was  associated  in  business  with  his  father.  Mr.  Cowan 
died  Feb.  14,  1897. 

The  Cowan  family  was  a  well  known  and  much  respected  one  in 
the  town  from  its  first  settlement.  George  and  Ephraim  Cowan  were 
among  those  who  drew  Home  lots  in  1739.  George  drew  lot  21  and 
Ephraim  lot  42,  the  latter  being  about  a  mile  east  of  the  Methodist 
church.  The  name  of  Cowan  appears  on  the  town  records  for  many 
years,  and  probably  until  Mr.  James  M.  Cowan  removed  from  town 
in  1867.  George  Cowan  the  first  settler  was  from  Concord,  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex,  while  Ephraim  was  from  Worcester  where 
most  of  the  settlers  of  the  town  came  from.  Whether  these  two  men 
were  brothers  cannot  be  determined  by  the  records,  but  they  may 
have  been.  In  1757  there  was  a  Samuel  Cowan,  also  a  James 
Cowan;  they  were  both  married  that  year.  Sept.  8,  1781,  James 
Cowan  was  married  to  Mary  Dunbar  of  Winchendon.  On  a  list  of 
voters  for  the  year  1799  the  names  of  James  and  George  Cowan 
appear. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  443 

Dr.  Morton  Monroe  Eaton  was  the  son  of  Monroe  Eaton  and 
Clarissa  Boyden,  and  was  born  in  Pelham,  April  21,  1839.  He 
attended  the  schools  of  the  town,  supplemented  by  several  terms  in 
the  schools  of  Amherst  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855  being  at  that 
time  sixteen  years  old.  In  Chicago  he  studied  medicine  with  Prof. 
Daniel  Brainard,  formerly  president  of  the  Rush  Medical  College. 
Dr.  Eaton  graduated  from  this  college  in  1861.  He  was  then  resi- 
dent physician  of  the  city  hospital  for  two  years.  He  then  removed 
to  Peoria  where  he  was  made  surgeon  of  that  post  in  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  During  the  Rebellion  he  made  five  trips  through  the 
South  for  the  Sanitary  Commission,  under  the  direction  of  Gov. 
Yates  of  Illinois,  distributing  sanitary  stores  and  assisting  the 
wounded  and  needy  to  get  home  or  to  suitable  hospitals. 

Dr.  Eaton  was  a  prolific  writer  for  medical  journals,  and  also 
wrote  and  published  books.  His  most  noted  book  was  a  volume 
of  over  800  pages,  profusely  illustrated,  and  had,  and  is  still  having 
an  extensive  sale.  Dr.  Eaton  was  president  of  the  City  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  Society  of  Cincinnati.  He  was  vice-president  of  the 
State  Society  of  Illinois  ;  also  a  member  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Homeopathy,  and  an  honorary  member  of  several  other  state  and 
other  societies,  including  the  International  Congress  of  Paris,  France. 
In  188 1  he  attended  the  World's  Homeopathic  convention  in 
London. 

Dr.  Eaton  removed  to  Cincinnati  in  1877  and  to  Walnut  Hills  in 
May,  1886.  He  practiced  medicine  as  partner  with  Prof.  S.  R. 
Beckwith.  He  was  a  hard  student  and  was  successful  both  as  prac- 
tictioner  and  as  a  business  man,  saving  a  pretty  large  fortune.  Dr. 
Eaton  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Eliza  J.  Payne  of 
Galesburg,  111.,  with  whom  he  lived  seventeen  years.  His  second 
wife  was  Miss  Sutherland  of  Peoria,  111.  Dr.  Eaton  died  Oct.  21, 
1889,  leaving  besides  his  wife,  two  daughters  and  a  son,  who  is  also 
a  physician,  his  mother  and  a  step  brother,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  who 
was  at  one  time  governor  of  Illinois.  In  religion  Dr.  Eaton  was  a 
Congregation alist  and  attended  the  Walnut  Hills  Congregational 
church.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  N.  C.  Harmony  lodge  of 
Masons. 

Dr.  Francis  Lapier  Eaton  was  the  son  of  Monroe  Eaton  and 
Clarissa  Boyden,  and  was  born  in  Pelham,  March  5,  1843.  He 
attended  the  schools  of  his  native  town  in  boyhood   until  his  parents 


444  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

moved  to  the  West,  where  his  education  was  completed  and  he 
selected  medicine  as  a  profession.  After  completing  his  course  of 
study  he  began  practice  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  but  later  Dr.  Eaton  settled 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  for  twenty  years  or  more  was  a  most  zeal- 
ous and  active  worker  in  the  interests  of  his  chosen  profession,  hav- 
ing been  corresponding  secretary  for  some  years  of  the  Cincinnati 
College  of  Pharmacy,  then  trustee,  and  later  president  of  the  college. 
He  served  with  honor  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  was  an 
honored  member  of  the  Geo.  H.  Thomas  Post  G.  A.  R.  of  that  city. 
He  died  in  Cincinnati,  Jan.  24,  1887,  when  but  44  years  of  age. 

Lebbeus  Gaskell,  Esq.,  was  the  son  of  William  Gaskell  and 
Phebe  Cook,  and  was  born  in  Pelham  in  1809.  He  attended  the 
schools  of  the  town  until  he  left  home  to  learn  the  wagon-makers' 
trade  at  Woonsocket,  R.  I.  After  becoming  master  of  the  practical 
part  of  the  business,  young  Gaskell  decided  to  go  into  the  business 
for  himself  and  having  saved  $300  used  it  as  capital,  it  being  all  that 
he  had.  His  venture  proved  a  success  after  a  while  and  the  money 
made,  was  saved  and  as  his  savings  increased  he  loaned  money  to 
the  manufacturers  about  Woonsocket  at  good  rates  of  interest.  He 
also  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and  was  successful  in  that 
also.  He  became  director  in  one  of  the  banks  at  Woonsocket  and 
later  was  chosen  president  of  the  institution  and  served  in  that 
capacity  for  several  years.  Mr.  Gaskell  died  at  Woonsocket,  R.  I., 
in  1875.  He  was  twice  married,  and  had  two  daughters,  one  of  them 
inheriting  nearly  all  of  the  large  fortune  her  father  accumulated,  and 
married  Dr.  Bailey,  a  noted  fancy  farmer  and  lecturer  upon  agricul- 
tural topics. 

The  Gaskell  family  came  to  Pelham  from  Cumberland,  R.  I. 
Other  members  of  William  Gaskell's  family  were:  Orinda,  Silas, 
Lyman,  James  M.,  Lucy  D.,  Joanna,  Chester,  and  Philena,  ten  in  all. 
Chester  and  Philena,  the  only  living  members  of  this  large  family, 
now  reside  in  Amherst. 

Dr.  E.  Ward  Cooke,  was  born  in  Pelham  on  the  i8th  day  of  May 
185 1.  He  was  the  sixth  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Bethiah  Ward  Cooke 
and  grandson  of  Eseck  Cooke,  the  Quaker  farmer  of  early  times. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the  old  Valley  district  school,  and 
later  became  a  pupil  of  Minor  Gold,  a  noted  teacher  of  Pelham. 
Being  naturally  ingenious    and   possessed  of    mechanical   ideas,  he 


DK.    i:.    WARD    COOKE, 


U.N(   L1-,    KSh(   K    (  OOK  S    FARM     IIOUSK. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN. 


445 


early  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  joiner's  trade,  at  which  he  worked 
in  this  and  adjoining  towns  and  later  in  Providence,  R.  I.  After- 
wards, he  went  to  South  Carolina  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  Sea 
Island  cotton  trade.  It  was  while  there  he  met  and  formed  the 
acquaintance  and  friendship  of  an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon 
and  through  his  influence,  he  determined  upon  a  professional  career, 
whereupon  he  took  up  a  course  of  reading  and  study  and  after  two 
years,  returned  to  his  native  state  and  entered  the  office  of  Dr. 
Horace  C.  Smith  of  Athol,  Mass.,  as  a  dental  student.  Subse- 
quently he  matriculated  at  the  Philadelphia  Dental  College  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  and  completing  his  course  of  study  there,  he  returned 
to  Athol,  where  he  began  the'  practice  of  dentistry  on  his  own 
account.  On  June  i6,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Etta  I.  Lewis, 
daughter  of  Enoch  T.  Lewis,  an  old  and  prominent  resident  of  the 
town.  In  1882,  he  removed  to  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  there  were 
broader  fields  in  which  to  labor,  and  where  he  has  achieved  most 
marvelous  success,  having  contributed  much  toward  the  advance 
ment  and  progress  of  the  dental  profession.  Dr.  Cooke  is  a  promi- 
nent man  in  the  dental  profession  in  the  city  of  Cambridge. 

Johnson  J.  Thompson,  son  of  Asa  and  Ruth  Thompson,  was  bora 
in  Pelham,  Oct.  14,  1832.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
town,  studied  medicine  with  Drs.  Smith  and  Taylor  of  Amherst  for 
several  years ;  attended  medical  lectures  in  Albany  and  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.;  located  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  married  a  niece  of  Judge  Conk- 
ling  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  a  cousin  of  Hon.  Roscoe  (I^onkling.  He 
practiced  medicine  with  much  success  for  thirty  years  or  more,  and 
died  at  Davenport,  March  24,  1894.  His  wife  dying  the  same  night, 
within  less  than  an  hour  of  his  death.  He  was  a  contributor  to 
leading  medical  journals,  and  was  honored  by  election  to  ofiices  of 
trust  and  responsibility  in  the  city  of  Davenport,  and  was  largely 
instrumental  in  founding  an  orphan  asylum  in  the  city.  Four  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  two  daughters,  survive. 

There  are  other  successful  business  men  who  were  natives  of  Pel- 
ham  besides  those  given  more  extended  notice.  Among  these  are : 
Edwin  and  Oliver  Bryant;  L.  V.  B.  Cook  of  West  Springfield;  Lucius 
W.  Cook,  Williamsport,  Pa.;  Marcus  D.  Cook,  Denver,  Colo.; 
Dwight  M.  Cook,  Chicopee  Falls,  sons  of  Olney  Cook;  W.  H.  H^ 
30 


446  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Ward,  Amherst  ;  Henry  C.  Hamilton,  Springfield  ;  Augustine  H. 
Rankin,  Blackstone  ;  M.  F.  Robinson  and  L.  F.  Jenks,  Springfield ; 
Charles  P.  Aldrich,  Greenfield  ;  R.  J.  D.  Westcott,  Ware,  for  many- 
years  cashier  of  First  National  bank,  Amherst;  Wm.  S.  Westcott, 
merchant,  Amherst ;  William  A.  Bailey,  contractor,  Northampton  ; 
Zimri  Thurber,  shoe  manufacturer,  Brockton  ;  Seth  B.  Hall,  capital- 
ist, Lowell ;  Charles  O.  and  Lemuel  W.  Hall,  Lowell,  sons  of  John 
B.  Hall ;  Warren  C.  Wedge,  Chicopee  ;  Marcus  C.  Grout,  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.;  John  T.  Fales,  Newport,  R.  L;  Leander  L.  Bartlett, 
Montague  City;  Eugene  P.  Bartlett,  Pelham ;  Sanford  M.  Robinson, 
Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Oliver  C.  Smith,  Rock  Springs,  Wy.;  Homer  Eaton, 
Northampton  ;  Frank  Kingman,  Enfield  ;  Osmyn  Houston,  Spring- 
field ;  S.  W.  Rankin,  Springfield  ;  G.  P.  Smith,  Jersey  Shore,  Pa.; 
Alfred  Taylor,  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Otis  S.  Lyman,  Lagrange,  111.; 
George  and  Albert  Davis,  clothing  dealers,  Prescott,  Ont.;  Edwin 
Chapman,  contractor,  Needhani  ;  Levi  D.  Hall,  Lowell. 

John  Savage  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  among  the  set- 
tlers of  Pelham.  He  was  not  one  of  the  original  settler  of  the  town 
but  came  to  Pelham  with  his  wife  in  1745  or  17  47  and  was  one  of  the 
towns' ablest  and  most  trusted  citizens  for  about  twenty  years,  serving 
the  town  in  almost  every  position  of  trust  and  responsibility  while  he 
dwelt  within  its  borders.  He  was  chosen  to  represent  the  town 
before  the  presbytery  in  1747;  committee  to  provide  schoolmasters 
in  1 781;  moderator  at  town  meetings,  and  selectman  in  1752;  on 
committee  to  legalize  acts  of  town  meetings  before  the  General  Court, 
and  also  one  of  the  selectmen  in  1753  ;  on  committee  to  represent  the 
town  at  the  superior  court  in  Springfield  in  1757  ;  chosen  agent  to 
represent  the  town  before  the  court  of  General  Sessions  in  1762  ;  was 
on  a  committee  to  represent  the  town  and  make  answer  to  a  petition 
that  had  been  presented  to  the  General  Court  in  1764.  The  above 
are  a  few  of  the  important  positions  of  service  to  which  he  was  called 
as  shown  by  the  record.  Hardly  a  year  but  John  Savage  was  in 
active  service  in  some  capacity  from  the  time  when  his  name  first 
appears  until  he  removed  from  the  town  in  1767  to  Salem,  Wash- 
ington county,  N.  Y. 

A  lineal  descendant  has  kindly  furnished  the  following  interesting 
sketch  of  the  life  of  John  Savage.  "  The  ancestors  of  Captain  John 
Savage  were  French,  being  Huguenots  they  were  driven  from  France 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  447 

by  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes  in  1685.  They  settled  in 
or  near  Londonderry  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  The  father  of  John 
Savage  married  a  Scotch  lady,  Miss  Eleanor  Hamilton ;  he  died  leav- 
ing three  sons,  who  came  to  America  with  their  mother  and  step- 
father in  1 7 17,  and  settled  at  Rutland,  Mass.  John  Savage  was  ten 
years  old  at  that  time  and  followed  the  seas  as  a  sailor  during  the 
early  part  of  his  life.  He  gradually  accumulated  property  and 
became  sole  owner  of  the  vessel  which  he  commanded.  In  a  storm  the 
vessel  was  wrecked  ofif  Cape  Breton,  his  men  and  cargo  being  all  lost, 
and  he  barely  escaped  with  his  life.  After  this  experience  he  aban- 
doned the  sea,  and  in  1733  married  a  daughter  of  his  stepfather  also 
a  Miss  Hamilton,  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Pelham,  Mass. 

In  1758  he  was  selected  as  captain  of  one  of  the  Massachusetts 
companies  in  the  old  French  War,  and  served  under  General  Brad- 
street  in  his  expedition  against  Fort  Frontenac,  and  under  General 
Abercrombie  in  his  disastrous  assault  upon  Fort  Ticonderoga.  Cap- 
tain Savage  was  lame  at  the  time  of  the  latter  engagement,  but  not- 
withstanding this  he  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  men  and  led 
them  into  the  fight. 

After  residing  twenty-two  years  in  Pelham,  Captain  Savage  moved 
to  Salem,  Washington  county,  N.  Y.,  in  1767,  where  he  died  Jan.  27, 
1792,  aged  eighty-five  years,  and  now  rests  in  Evergreen  Cemetery, 
at    Salem. 

The  following  is  the  quaint  and  curious  inscription  upon  his  tomb- 
stone. 

''  Near  this  stone  are  deposited  the  remains  of  Captain  John  Savage, 
whose  useful  life  (which  Heaven  protected  to  an  unusual  length)  was  dis- 
tinguished by  the  dangerous  hardships  and  deliverences  he  experienced  in  a 
long  series  of  adventures  both  by  land  and  sea. 

In  recounting  these  to  his  latest  moments,  he  gratefully  acknowledged 
the  wisdom,  goodness,  and  power  of  Divine  Providence  ;  that  he  was  atten- 
tive to  the  duties  of  religion;  that  he  undauntedly  advocated  the  faith 
which  he  firmly  believed ;  that  amidst  the  temptations  peculiarly  incident  to 
the  stations  of  a  seaman  and  soldier,  he  preserved  an  unsullied  and  exem- 
plary character,  diligently  discharging  the  several  duties  of  life  was  his 
distinction. 

Mr.  Savage  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland  about  the  year  1707,  in 
his  youth  he  emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  the  Province  of  Massachu- 
setts. In  the  year  1767,  he,  with  his  family  removed  from  Pelham  to  this 
town,  (Salem)  then  an  uncultivated  wilderness. 

January  27,  1792,  aged  eighty-five  year;  his  pilgrimage  being  ended  in  the 
certain  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality.     He  rested  in  Jesus." 


448  HISTORY    OF    PELHAIM,    MASS. 

The  descendants  of  John  Savage  have  been  distinguished  for 
abiUty  and  learning.  Edward  Savage,  son  of  John,  was  born  "in 
Rutland,  Mass.,  and  removed  to  Salem,  N,  Y.,  with  his  father  when 
the  latter  left  Pelham  in  1767,  being  then  21  years  of  age.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  McNaughton  and  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Washington 
County,  N.  Y.,  after  the  Revolutionary  war;  he  was  also  surrogate  ; 
and  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  for  twenty-one  years,  and  was 
three  times  elected  a  member  of  the  council  of  appointment.  He 
was  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg  in  1814,  and  died  in  1833,  aged  87. 
His  son  John  Savage  was  born  in  Salem  in  1779,  educated  at  Salem 
■  Academy  and  Union  College  ;  studied  law  and  opened  a  law  office 
in  Salem  in  1803  ;  served  two  terms  in  Congress  in  1814  and  1816  ; 
in  the  latter  year  he  married  Ruth  Wheeler  of  Lanesboro,  Mass.; 
resided  in  Albany  from  182  i  to  1837,  when  he  removed  to  Utica. 
He  was  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state  of  New  York 
from  1822  to  1836.     He  died  at  Utica,   October  19,    1863,  aged  84. 

The  opinions  of  Judge  Savage  on  legal  questions  while  chief  jus- 
tice are  quoted  in  law  reports  of  the  various  states,  and  are  cited  in 
the  current  volumes,  having  stood  the  test  of  nearly  a  century. 

John  Stinson  and  descendants.  John  Stinson  or  Stevenson  was 
one  of  the  original  settlers  of  the  town  of  J'elham  and  drew  Home 
Lot  No.  48,  situated  on  the  middle  range  road  nearly  a  mile  west  of 
the  center  of  the  town,  and  is  the  farm  now  owned  by  C.  H.  Hanson. 
His  father's  name  was  John  who  came  to  this  country  with  other 
Scotch-Irish  immigrants  in  17  18,  and  died  at  Rutland  in  1743.  leav- 
ing a  will  of  which  John  Savage  was  sole  executor. 

John  Stinson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  known  as  a  man  of 
responsibility  upon  whom  the  early  settlers  could  rely,  and  conse- 
quently he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the  town  at  the  first  town  meet- 
ing after  the  act  of  incorporation  on  the  19th  of  April,  1743.  He 
was  moderator  of  the  town  meeting  held  in  June  of  the  same  years 
and  filled  many  other  responsible  offices  in  the  town  during  the  year 
until  1774.  He,  with  his  son  Isaac  Stevenson,  were  soldiers  in  the 
colonial  wars,  and  John  went  with  the  New  England  expedition  to 
Lake  George  in  1758. 

Isaac  Stevenson  married  Thankful  Savage,  daughter  of  Capt.  John 
Savage  of  Rutland,  Oct.  23,  1764.  Capt.  Savage  was  afterwards  a 
prominent  cilizen  of    Pelham  until    1767.      Isaac   removed  to  Enfield 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN. 


449 


about  the  year  1789  and  a  bought  a  pew  in  the  church  there  when 
first  built,  paying  ^8  therefor. 

Margarett  Stevenson,  daughter  of  John,  became  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Robert  Abercrombie,  the  first  settled  minister  of  Pelham,  Jan.  7, 
1743  and  was  the  mother  of  eleven  children,  eight  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Samuel,  son  of  John  Stinson  or  Stevenson,  married  Martha  Sloan 
of  Pelham  and  was  a  voter  in  Pelham  in  1799. 

Mary  Stevenson,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Thankful,  married  Alden 
Lathrop,  first  town  treasurer  of  Enfield,  Mass.,  and  a  descendant  of 
John  and  Priscilla  Alden.  Their  son  Sylvanus  Lathrop,  was  born 
in  Enfield  and  was  a  noted  builder  in  early  life,  having  erected  the 
steeple  of  the  church  at  Enfield  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  became  a  noted  civil  engineer  and  contractor.  His  first 
extensive  contract  was  on  the  Erie  canal,  and  later  executed  a  con- 
tract on  a  canal  at  Akron,  Ohio.  He  built  the  third  rolling  mill  at 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  engaged  in  the  iron  business.  The  first  acque- 
duct  over  the  Allegheny  river  at  Pittsburg  was  built  by  Sylvanus 
Lathrop  in  1829,  and  he  was  the  first  to  plan  a  bridge  over  the 
Mississippi  river  at  St.  Louis. 


Concerning  the  Women  of  Pelham, 


The  names  of  very  few  women  appear  upon  the  town  records  from 
1738  to  1825  inclusive.  They  did  not  vote  even  in  church  affairs. 
They  did  not  teach  school,  and  were  hardly  allowed  to  attend  school 
in  the  early  years.  They  were  taught  to  sew,  to  spin,  to  knit  and  to 
weave  ;  these  plain  useful  accomplishments  were  thought  to  comprise 
all  that  it  was  necessary  for  women  to  possess.  That  the  wives  of 
the  Scotchmen  of  Pelham  exerted  great  influence,  as  they  always  do, 
is  unquestionably  true  :  but  they  made  their  influence  tell  at  home 
rather  than  as  directors  of  the  sewing  society,  as  managers  of  the 
woman's  board  of  missions,  or  as  members  of  women's  clubs. 

We  know  that  they  must  have  taken  a  lively  interest  in  all  that 
pertained  to  the  well  being  of  the  town  and  the  church,  and  must 
have  taken  sides  in  the  troubles  which  existed  for  much  of  the  time 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  first  minister,  but  they  are  not  on 
record.  They  had  borne  their  share  of  the  burdens  of  the  war  for 
liberty  and  saw  their  husbands  and  sons  march  away  to  fight  against 
King  George,  and  were  pinched  and  oppressed  by  the  heavy  taxes 
imposed  to  carry  on  the  war.  While  their  husbands  were  away  with 
the  army,  they  were  left  at  home  on  the  farms  with  the  old  men  and 
boys,  doing  the  best  they  could  to  keep  their  children  fed  and 
clothed.  Yet  not  a  written  word  of  their  struggles  and  their  self- 
denying  actions  is  left  on  record  for  our  perusal  now,  when  we  would 
be  pleased  to  learn  about  it. 

That  the  women  of  Pelham  held  radical  opinions  concerning  that 
clerical  impostor  and  rogue,  Stephen  Burroughs,  does  not  admit  of  a 
doubt,  and  that  they  used  their  tongues  in  denouncing  the  wily  youth 
quite  as  freely  and  effectively  as  did  their  husbands,  sons  and  brothers 
cannot  be  questioned  for  a  moment;  but  no  criticism  of  their's  has 
come  down  to  us.  They  felt  the  pressure  of  debts  and  sympathized 
with  their  husbands  when  the  burdens  pressed  heavily  and  creditors 
seemed  intent  upon  evicting  them  from  their  homes  almost  in  their 
determination  to  force  payment  of  claims  ;  they  criticized  the  laws 
and   lawyers,   and  inveighed  against  the  courts  as  volubly  as  their 


CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM,  45 1 

husbands  during  the  stirring  times  of  the  Shays  rebelUon ;  but  we 
can  only  guess  the  strong  expressions  they  used,  for  the  records  are 
a  blank  on  the  subject.  Probably  the  first  name  of  a  woman  on  the 
records  of  the  town  is  that  of  Eloner  Gray  in  1760.  It  appears  in 
the  record  of  a  town  meeting,  Nov.  14,  1760, — "first  voted  that 
there  is  Six  Pound  thirteen  Shilling  &  four  pence  allowed  for  the 
Support  of  Eloner  Gray  for  the  Present  year." 

Eloner  Gray  was  poor,  possibly  a  widow  and  alone  in  the  world. 
Her's  is  the  first  name  of  a  woman  assisted  by  the  town.  Later, 
came  others  whose  names  appear  regularly  for  years,  or  until  death 
relieved  them  of  their  poverty  and  distress.  At  a  meeting  Jan.  20, 
1764,  "  It  was  Likewise  Voted  that  Elizabeth  Clark  is  allowed  four 
Shilling  for  Tendance  at  Ordination  time."  The  services  of  Eliza- 
beth Clark  that  brought  her  four  shillings  reward  by  vote  of  the 
town,  was  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham.  She 
was  probably  one  of  those  helpful  women  that  know  just  what  needs 
to  be  done  on  all  occasions,  whether  it  be  a  wedding,  a  funeral  or 
an  ordination,  and  it  was  well  that  the  town  appreciated  her  ser- 
vices, and  still  better  to  show  their  appreciation  by  an  appropriation 
of  money  from  the  town  treasury  as  partial  payment — it  could  not 
have  been  but  partial  payment,  for  services  rendered  by  such  a 
woman  as  we  conceive  Elizabeth  Clark  to  have  been  was  worth 
much  more  than  four  shillings  for  '■  tendance  "  at  such  an  interest- 
ing occasion  as  an  ordination.  In  the  warrant  of  another  town 
meeting  is  the  following: — 

"  To  see  what  Method  the  town  will  take  to  help  Rebeckah  Selfradge  for 
Maintaining  and  taking  care  of  her  Mother  Elisibeth  Selfradge." 

This  name  is  more  frequently  written  Selfridge,  and  there  were 
several  men  of  that  name  who  held  responsible  positions  as  officers  of 
the  town  ;  so  that  both  Rebeckah  and  her  mother  were  unquestionably 
worthy  people,  and  it  is  fair  to  infer  from  the  language  of  the  town 
warrant,  that  Rebeckah  had  striven  heroically  to  take  good  care  of 
her  mother  and  maintain  her  without  calling  upon  the  town,  and 
that  her  efforts  had  been  noticed  by  some  people,  who  had,  without 
any  suggestion  from  the  Selfridges,  taken  this  method  of  calling  the 
attention  of  the  people  of  the  town  to  the  unselfish  and  plucky 
struggle  of  Rebeckah.  Edward  Selfridge  died  in  1761  and  his  widow 
Elizabeth   lived  until    1799   *^^   1800  when   she   died  aged   95  years, 


452  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Rebeckah  caring  for  her  all  of  the  nearly    forty  years  of  her   widow 
hood. 

At  a  town  meeting,  April  i,  1793,  the  town  "Voted  Rebeckah 
Conkey  £1 — los  for  Boarding  and  Nursing  Lydia  Miller  and  child 
eighteen  days."  There  is  no  explanation  of  the  circumstances  under 
which  Rebeckah  Conkey  rendered  the  service  for  which  the  town 
voted  the  above  sum  from  the  town  treasury,  but  it  being  an  unusual 
form  for  service  rendered  the  town  poor,  we  assume  that  it  was  a 
special  case  of  suffering,  and  there  was  need  of  special  service, 
which  Rebeckah  Conkey  rendered. 

From  these  few  isolated  cases  in  which  the  names  of  the  women 
of  Pelham  appear  on  the  public  records  of  a  century  or  more  ago, 
we  are  bound  to  assume  that  in  the  limited  sphere  to  which  the 
habits  and  customs  of  the  times  in  which  they  lived  restricted  them, 
and  under  which  they  lived  and  moved  and  had  their  being,  they 
exercised  all  the  womanly  qualities  as  opportunity  offered,  and  were 
not  troubled  very  much  by  reason  of  being  kept  in  the  background. 
They  cared  for  the  sick  ;  they  helped  the  unfortunate  ;  they  sympa- 
thized with  the  distressed.  No  young  woman's  marriage  outfit  was 
coinplete  without  the  little  linen  wheel.  The  whir  and  hum  of  these 
little  linen  wheels  in  their  humble  homes  was  as  melodious  and  more 
harmonious  than  the  sounds  that  come  from  many  a  modern  home 
piano  under  the  merciless  thrumming  of  the  girls  of  to-day,  who  are 
no  more  successful  in  producing  harmonious  sounds  than  they  would 
be  in  trying  to  spin  flax  on  the  little  wheel. 

Then  came  a  time  when  the  little  wheel  for  spinning  flax  was  laid 
aside  because  the  cultivation  of  flax  was  suspended.  And  as  factory 
made  goods  came  into  use,  the  larger  and  more  noisy  wheel  for  spin- 
ning wool,  that  had  been  carded  into  rolls  either  by  hand  or  at  the 
carding  machine,  was  stored  in  the  attic  and  was  at  rest.  Early  in 
this  century  the  braiding  or  plaiting  of  split  straw  braid  was  taken 
up  by  the  women.  About  the  middle  of  June  a  rye  field  was 
selected  where  the  growth  was  thick  and  vigorous,  which  was  usually 
on  new  land  from  which  the  wood  had  been  cut  the  year  previous, 
and  the  green  rank  growth  of  rye  was  cut  and  tied  in  small  bundles. 
These  bundles  were  placed  in  hot  water  for  a  short  time  and  then 
spread  upon  the  ground,  and  in  a  few  days  was  bleached  nearly 
white.     This  straw  was  cut  into  length  at  the  joints,  submitted  to  the 


CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM.  453 

fumes  of  burning  brimstone  and  tlie  white  supple  straw  was  split  in 
narrow  splints  and  the  women  plaited  them  into  braids  of  various 
kinds  which  was  gathered  by  dealers  and  sold  for  making  ladies 
bonnets,  it  being  paid  for  by  the  yard.  Many  women  occupied  the 
spare  time  from  domestic  duties  in  plaiting  this  domestic  braid. 
About  the  year  1827  the  palm- leaf  hat  business  was  started.  Palm- 
leaf  cut  from  the  trees  in  Cuba  was  imported,  bleached  and  split  by 
men,  and  distributed  among  the  women  of  Pelham  and  other  towns 
to  be  braided  into  hats.  The  women  and  girls  and  boys  of  the 
town  were  employed  for  many  years  at  this  work,  and  many  thou- 
sands of  hats  were  turned  out  yearly.  Then  came  the  weaving  of 
palm-leaf  into  webs  for  making  Shaker  Hoods.  This  weaving  by  the 
women  was  commenced  first  about  1840,  and  was  continued  at  inter- 
vals until  after  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  when  it  was  suspended, 
because  women  and  girls  preferred  hats  to  the  close  unwieldly  Shaker 
Hood,  and  it  went  out  of  use  because  fashion  decreed  it.  Very  few 
women  braid  palm-leaf  hats  at  present,  as  the  rebellion  in  Cuba  pre- 
vents the  importation  of  palm-leaf. 

The  women  of  Pelham,-  wives  and  daughters  of  the  first  settlers, 
were  none  of  them  brought  up  in  the  lap  of  luxury;  there  were  none 
of  the  farmer  settlers  who  were  rich,  or  able  to  live  without  work, 
consequently  all  worked, — both  men  and  women,  and  the  latter  have 
been  noted  for  their  industrious  habits  during  all  the  years  since  the 
town  was  settled. 

There  are  a  few  pages  of  the  record  books  on  which  the  names  of 
women  are  found  but  they  are  not  the  pages  on  which  the  records  of 
the  many  annual  and  special  business  town  meetings  are  spread,  but 
it  is  on  the  few  pages,  where  the  publication  of  marriage  intentions — 
marriages  and  the  deaths  are  found.  Omitting  the  record  of  deaths, 
the  record  of  publications  and  marriages  furnish  almost  the  only 
source  from  which  the  names  of  women  who  lived  in  town  can  be 
obtained.  No  attempt  will  be  made  to  give  the  marriages  from  the 
settlement  of  the  town  down  to  the  present  time,  but  from  the  earliest 
records, — the  marriages  from  1746  to  1822  are  given  so  far  as  they 
are  obtainable  from  the  early  record  books,  and  the  "  publications  " 
from  1769  to  1815,  or  such  of  them  as  do  not  show  a  record  of  mar- 
riage of  the  parties  whose  marriage  intentions  appears.  Publication 
was  good  evidence  that  marriage  should  and  did  follow  ;  breach  of 
promise  of  marriage  was  not  common  125  years  ago. 


454  HISrORY    OF    PKLHAM,     .MASS. 


MARRIAGES. 


Aug.  25,  1746,  Robert  McKee  and  Mary  Gray,  both  of  I'elham. 

Sept.  25,  1746,  John  Dick  and  Jean  McCuUoch,  Pelham. 

Nov.  10,  1746,  Ephraim  Whiler  and  Hannah  Marks,  of  Quabin,  so-called. 

Jan.  23,  1747,  Jacob  Ramsdell  and  Hannah  Owens,  of  Quabin,  so-called. 

April  2,  1747,  James  Hood  and  Easter  Gray,  Pelham. 

April  16,  1747,  James  Conkey  and  Isabel  Maklem,  Pelham. 

Jan.  7,  1748,  Alexander  Conkey  and  Sarah  Maklem,  Pelham. 

April  25,  1748,  Joseph  Rinken  and  Elisebeth  Gray,  Pelham. 

May  iS,  1748,  Andrew  Smith,    Holden,  and  Jean  Clark,  Pelham. 

Nov.  13,  1746,  Robert  McCulloch,  Pelham,  and  Margarett  Smith,  Kingstown. 

Dec.  4,  1746,  James  Fergerson  and  Ester  Thornton,  Pelham. 

July  28,  1748.  William  Harkness  and  Ann  Gray,  Pelham. 

Oct.  27,  1748,  James  Smith,  Kingstown,  and  Margarett  McCulloch,  Pelham. 

April  14,  1749,  Alex'd'  McNutt  and  Elisebeth  Maklem,  Pelham. 

May  18,  1749,  William  Petteson  and  Margarett  King,  Pelham. 

Feb.  8,  1750,  Robert  McCulloch  and  Sarah  Cowan,  Pelham. 

April  24,  1750,  David  Thomas  and  Elisebeth  Cowan,  Pelham. 

May  16,  175 1,  Robert  Barber  and  Sarah  McFarland,  Pelham. 

Jan.  16,  1753,  Nathaniel  Tagert,  Blandford,  and  Janet  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

Feb.  8,  1753,  John  Crawford  and  Susanna  Kelso,  Pelham. 

Sept.  ID,  1754,  Isaac  Gray  and  Mary  Maklem,  Pelham. 

Feb.  20,  1755,  Alexander  McCulloch  and  Sarah  Peebels,  Pelham. 

April  17,  1755,  John  Gray,  Jun.,  and  Martha  Savige,  Pelham. 

Nov.  17,  1755,  William  Conkey  aud  Rebeckah  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

Nov.  18,  1755,  David  Thomas,  Pelham,  and  Elisebeth  Harper,  Lancaster. 

Dec.  II,  1755,  Samuel  Cowden,  Worcester,  and  Margarett  Gilmore,  Pelham. 

Aprils,  1756,  Sam'l  Wallas,  Rutland,  and  Mary  McCelland,  Pelham. 

Dec.  28,  1756,  Oliver  Selfridge  and  Ester  Smith,  Pelham. 

Jan.  4,  1757,  Sam''  Cowan  and  Margarett  Hunter,  Pelham. 

Mar.  8,  1757,  Patrick  Pebbles  and  Margarett  Taylor,  Pelliam. 

Mar.  17,  1757,  Will'"  Selfridge,  Pelham,  and  Catrin  McMaster,  Palmer. 

April  7,  1757,  James  Harkness  and  Nancy  Gray,  Pelham. 

April  19,  1757,  Robert  Hamilton  and  Elisebeth  Kid,  Pelham. 

April  26,  1757,  David  Stoughton,  Londonderry,   and  Mary  Pebels,   Pelham. 

Oct.  27,  1757,  Hanry  Strongman,  Greenfield,  and  Jennet  Alexander,  Pelham. 

Nov.  17,  1757,  Rev.  John  Houston,  Bedford,  and  Mrs.  Ann  Peebles,  Pelham. 

Dec.  8,  1757,  William  Brown,  Blandford,  and  Agness  King,  Pelham. 

Dec.  13,  1757,  John  Thompson  and  Prudence  Clark,  Pelham. 

Dec.  22,  1757,  James  Cowan  Jun.  and  Elisebeth  Hunter,  Pelham. 

Jan.  19,  1759,  James  Hamilton  and  Sarah  Lucore,  Pelham. 

Feb.  22,  1759,  John  Young  and  Margerett  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Aug.  17,  1759,  John  Pebels,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Cunningham,  Brookfield. 

Sept.  13,  1759,  Abraham  Islut,  Pequige,  and  Sarah  Gray,  Pelham. 

Sept.  13,  1759,  Robert  Oliver,  Pequige,  and  Lydia  Gray,  Pelham. 


CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM.  455 

Dec.  27,  1759,  John  Hamilton  and  Agness  Sloan,  Pelham. 
Jan.  15,  1760,  William  Henry,  Coldrain,  and  Isabel  Gilmore,  Pelham. 
Feb.  12,  1760,  Joseph  McCraken,  Worcester,  and  Sarah  Turner,  Pelham. 
April  I,  1760,  James  Turner,  Pelham,  and  Susanna  Thomas,  Worcester. 
Oct.  21,  1760,  John  McCreelless,  Coldrain,  and  Hannah  Conkey,  Pelham. 
Oct.  23,  1760,  Daniel  Gray  and  Mary  Dick,  Pelham. 
Feb.  26.  1761.  James  Tafts,  Worcester,  and  Martha  Gray,  Pelham. 
Nov.  23,  1760,  James  Halburt  and  Janet  Hunter,  Pelham. 
Oct.  13,  1761,  John  Walless,  Coldrain,  and  Agness  Linsey,  Pelham. 
Nov.  24,  1761,  Samuel  Wilson,  Coldrain,  and  Sarah  Cowan,  Pelham. 
Dec.  3,  1761,  John  Sloan,  Salem,  and  Mary  Butler,  Pelham. 
Dec.  17,  1761,  John  Lindsey  and  Mary  Thompson.  Pelham. 
Feb.  2,  1762,  John  Clark.  Blandford,  and  Ann  Maklem,  Pelham, 
Feb.  II,  1762,  Thomas  Morrison,  Londonderry,  and  Martha  Clark,  Pelham. 
Mar.  2,  1762,  Robert  Clark,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Patrick,  Rutland. 
April  13,  1762,  Joshua  Conky  and  Dinah  Dick,  Pelham. 
Dec.  9,  1762,  Thomas  Hamilton,  Jun.,  and  Jennet  McCulloch,  Pelham. 
June  2,  1763,  Robert  Gilmore  and  Jean  Gray,  Pelham. 
Oct.  27,  1763,  Isaac  Hunter  and  Ketrin  Dick.  Pelham. 
Feb.  14,  1764,  James  Hamilton,  Coldrain,  and  Phebe  Henderson.  Pelham. 
Nov.  15,  1754,  Isaac  Stevenson,  Pelham,  and  Thankful  Savage,  Rutland. 
Nov.  22,  1764,  William  Clark,  Coldrain,  and  Mary  Petteson,  Pelham. 
Dec.  20,  1764,  Robert  Young,  Athull,  and  Elisebeth  Gray,  Pelham. 
Dec.  27,  1764,  John  Halbert,  Chesterfield,  and  Elenor  Colester,  Pelham. 
Jan.  10,  1765,  John  Sloan  and  Ann  Fergerson,  Pelham. 
Feb.  19,  1765,  James  Clark,  Coldrain,  and  Mary  Clark,  Pelham. 
Oct.  17,  1765,  George  Gilmore,  New  Cambridge,  and  Elisebeth  Blair,  Pelham. 
Dec.  5,  1765,  George  Thompson  and  Mary  Crosett,  Pelham. 
Dec.  19,  1765,  Samuel  Hyde  and  Hannah  Meklem,  Pelham. 
June  17,  1766,  Jonathan  Sprague,  Ashfield,  and  Elesebeth  Clark.  Pelham. 
July  24,  1766,  James  Thompson  and  Mary  Cowan,  Pelham. 
Oct.  9,  1766,  Thomas  Torrance,  Braintree,  and  Agness  Cochran,  Pelham. 
Oct.  30,  1765,  Mathew  Gray  and  Sarah  Barber,  Pelham. 
Nov.  18.  1766,  William  Campbell,  Murryfield,  and  Mary  Young,  Pelham. 
Dec.  II,  1766,  Jamss  Hunter  and  Susanna  Fergerson,  Pelham. 
Dec.  25,  1766,  John  Black,  Murrayfield,  and  Jennet  Blair,  Pelham. 
Feb.  12,  1767,   Ebenezer  Gray  and  Sarah  Johnston,  Pelham. 
June  18,  1767,  Robert  Cochran,  Bennington,  and  Mary  Gilmore,  Pelham. 
July  II,  1767,  John  Anderson,  Deerfield,  and  Jenny  McCraken,  Pelham. 
Oct.  I,  1767,  Robert  Hamilton,  Rutland  Dist.,  and  Margaret  Conkey,  Pelham. 
Oct.  21,  1767,  James  Gilmore  and  Margerett  Berry,  Pelham. 
Oct.  15,  1757,  Hamilton  McCoUester,  White  Creek,  and  Sarah  Dick,  Pelham. 
Dec.  9,  1767,  Samuel  Wilson,  Coldrain,  and  Agness  Dunlap,   Pelham. 
May  5,  176S,  James  Pebels  and  Rachel  Young,  Pelham. 
May  6,  1768,  Robert  Hamilton  and  Isabel  Conkey,  Pelham. 
July  7,  176S,  Ep'iraim  Hniilton.  Blan;lford.  and  .Margaret  Hamilton,  Pelham. 


456  HISIORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Oct.  27,  176S,  John  Hiiiacks.  Shelborn,  and  Margarett  Gray,  I'elham. 

Nov.  8,  1768,  John  McCulloch,  New  Cambridge,  and  Isabel  Blair,   I'elham. 

July  25,  1769,  Timothy  Rice,  Chesterfield,  and  Mary  Halbert,  Pelhani. 

Mar.  15,  1770,  Seth  Morton,  Hatfield,  and  Mary  Sloan,  l^elham. 

June  7,  1770,  James  Campbell  and  Mary  Ann  Dick,  Pelliam. 

June  14,  1770,  John  Blair,  Murrayfield,  and  Elisebeth  Halbert,  Pelham. 

Aug.  2,  1770,  William  Johnston  and  Margerett  Mekleni,  Pelliam. 

Nov.  8,  1770,  Reuben  Lothridge  and  Margery  Nolten,  Pelham. 

Dec.  20,  1770,  William  Fergerson  and  Jennet  Hood,  Pelham. 

Dec.  27,  1770,  Nathaniel  Gray  and  Sarah  Blair,  Pelham. 

Feb.  7,  1771,  Benjamin  Kid,  Chesterfield,  and  Agness  Johnston,  Pelham. 

June  20,  1771,  James  Dunlap  and  .\Iargarett  Dick,  Pelham. 

Oct.  ID,  1771,  Alex.  McCulloch,  New  Cambridge,  and  Jennet  Cowden,  Pel'm. 

Jan.  9,  1772,  John  Maklem  and  Martha  Thomas,  Pelham. 

June  4,  1772,  John  Conkey,  Jun.,  and  Margarett  Abercrombie,  Pelham. 

Dec.  3,  1772,  Jacob  Croset,  Pelham,  and  Eloner  English,  Greenwich. 

Dec.  3,  1772,  Abizer  Edson  and  Rhoda  Peterson,  Pelham. 

Fel).  4,  1773,  John  Buck,  Worthington,  and  Elisebeth  Selfridge,  Pelham. 

April  29,  1773,  David  Conkey  and  Sarah  Hunter,  Pelham. 

Nov.  II,  1773,  Joseph  Hamilton  and  Ann  Oliver,  Pelham. 

Nov.  22,  1773,  Andrew  Abercrombie  and  Mary  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Dec.  23,  1773,  Robert  Cutler,  Pelham,  and  Mrs.   Esther  Garnsey,  Amherst. 

Nov.  25,  1773,  Jonathan  Cluff,  Belchertown,  and  Elisebeth  Croset,  Pelham. 

Nov.  30,  1773,  Charles  Kid,  Chesterfield,  and  Frank  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

Dec.  7,  1773,  Samuel  Finton,  Greenwich,  and  Martha  Croset,  Pelham. 

Mar.  8,  1774,  Jonathan  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Elisebeth  Willey,  Worcester. 

May  19,  1774,  William  Ree,  Greenwich,  and  Mary  Croset,  Pelham. 

June  2,  1774,  David  Sloan,  Pelham.  and  Elisebeth  Scot,  Leicester. 

June  16,  1774,  Moses  Cooley,  Petersham,  and  Sarah  Sloan,  Pelham. 

June  30,  1774,  Joseph  Thompson  and  Margaret  Croset,  Pelham. 

July  29,  1774,  Samuel  Rush  and  Ehsebeth  Cowden,  Pelham. 

Oct.  3,  1774,  Jonathan  Hood  and  Sarah  Holland,  Pelham. 

Oct.  6,  1774,  John  Rinken,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Torrance,  Belchertown. 

Nov.  29,  1774,  James  Caldwell  McMullen  and  Sarah  McCulloch,  Pelham. 

Nov.  29,  1774,  Joseph  Henry,  Coldrain,  and  Margerett  McCulloch,  Pelham. 

Dec.  I,  1774,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  Greenwich,  and  Anne  Rebels,  Pelham. 

Feb.  2,  1775,  Asa  Conkey  and  Margaret  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

June  I,  1775.  Oliver  Holland  and  Martha  Rinken,  Pelham. 

March  6,  1776,  John  Lawson,  .Shelburn,  and  Margeret  Barber,  Pelham. 

June  II,  1776,  Alexander  Conkey,  Jun.,  and  Mary  Rebels,  Pelham. 

July  4,  1776,  James  White  and  Mary  Cowden,  Pelham. 

Sept.  6,  1776,  Philip  Freker,  Hardwick,  and  Elisebeth  Ransom,  Pelham. 

Sept.  6,  1776,  Timothy  Ingram  and  Persela  Richmore,  Pelham. 

Sept.  19,  1776,  Mathew  Brown,  Murrayfield,  and  Elisebeth  Dick,  Pelham. 

Oct.  17,  1776,  Simeon  Peck,  Amherst,  and  Frances  Zuillo,  Pelham. 

Oct.  24,  1776,  Moses  Ransom  and  Jennet  Fergerson,  Pelham. 


CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM.  457 

Dec.  18,  1776,  James  Gilmore,  Conway,  and  Jean  McCulloch,  Pelham. 

May  13,  1777,  David  Heirs,  Coldrain,  and  Jean  Dick,  Pelham. 

May  15,  1777,  John  Johnston  and  Jean  Johnston,  Pelham. 

June  26,  1777,  Mathew  Rmken  and  Martha  Torrance,  Pelham. 

Sept.  II,  1777,  Thomas  Thompson  and  Jean  Maklem,  Pelham. 

Sept.  25,  1777,  Mathew  Gray  and  Catrin  Dick,  Pelham. 

Nov.  18,  1777,  Moses  Fulton,  Colrain,  and  Lydia  Clark,  Pelham. 

Dec.  II,  1777,  James  Petteson  and  Mary  Green,  Pelham. 

Dec.  18,  1777,  John  Brooks,  Hadley,  and  Margaret  Clark,  Pelham. 

Jan.  9,  1778,  James  Cowdin,  Pelham,  and  Rebeckah  Hamilton,  Shutesbury. 

Jan.  29,  1778,  Thomas  McMullen  and  Martha  Cowdin,  Pelham. 

May  26,  177S,  Jonas  Conkey,  Pelham,  and  Ruth  Bridge,  Shutesbury. 

May  26,  1778,  Lamond  Gray  and  Isabel  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

June  II,  1778,  William  Harkness,  Jun.,  and  Isabel  Gray,  Pelham. 

July  7,  1778,  Adam  Petteson,  Shutesbury,  and  Jennet  Rinken,  Pelham. 

Aug.  21,  1778,  James  Rinkin  and  Sarah  Hunter,  Pelham. 

Dec.  3,  1778,  William  Cowdin  and  Sarah  Crawford,  Pelham. 

Dec.  10,  1778,  William  Croset,  Pelham,  and  Jenny  Thomas,  Worcester. 

Sept.  9,  1779,  James  King  and  Elisebeth  McCulloch,  Pelham. 

Nov.  30,  1779,  Samuel  Sloan  and  Eunice  Dick,  Pelham. 

Jan.  27,  1780,  William  Berry  and  Naomi  Petteson,  Pelham. 

Feb.  29,  1780,  John  Alexander,  Bennington,  and  Elisebeth  Berry,  Pelham. 

Mar.  6,  1780,  William  Mills  and  Jean  McConel,  Pelham. 

April  27,  1780,  Thomas  Dick  and  Mary  McMullen,  Pelham. 

Aug.  21,  1780,  George  Elot  and  Eloner  Bears,  Pelham. 

Aug.  24,  1780,  Samuel  Hathey,  Middleberry,  and  Sarah  Stevens,  Pelham. 

Aug.  31,  1780,  Thomas  Thompson  and  Mary  Smith,  Pelham. 

Sept.  21,  1780,  Nathaniel  Sampson  and  Nancy  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Sept.  21,  1780,  John  Berry,  New  Salem,  and  Mary  Haskell,  Pelham. 

Sept.  26,  1780,  James  Blair,  Belchertown,  and  Mary  Dick,  Pelham. 

Sept.  26,  1780,  Jacob  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Jean  Smith,  Holden. 

Nov.  15,  1780,  James  Abercrombie  and  Margery  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Dec.  5,  1780,  Isaac  Conkey  and  Rebekah  Maklem,  Pelham. 

Feb.  13,  1781,  John  Gittee,  Black  Creek,  and  Sarah  Gray,  Pelham. 

Mar.  24,  1781,  Alexander  Torrance  and  Precila  Heket,  Pelham. 

May  29,  1781,  Aaron  Gould  and  Lydia  Gray,  Pelham. 

Dec.  8,  1782,  David  Harkness  and  Sarah  Gray,  Pelham. 

Dec.  8,  1782,  Robert  Croset  and  Nancy  Hood,  Pelham. 

Mar.  22,  1784,  Robert  Huston  and  Katherin  Taylor,  Pelham. 

May  26,  17S4.  Jonathan  Leach,  Pelham,  and  Annie  Williams,  Shutesbury. 

Mar.  30,  1786,  William  Conkey  and  Mary  Maklam,  Pelham. 

Nov.  15,  1793,  William  Hunt,  Shutesbury,  and  Polly  Crosher,  Pelham. 

Dec.  2  1793,  Joseph  Hinds,  German  Flats,  and  Jennet  Crosett,  Pelham. 

Dec.  5.  1793,  William  Lawson,  Greenfield,  and  Polly  Montgomery,  Pelham. 

April  3,  1794,  David  Haskell,  and  Polly  Gray,  Pelham. 

June  25,  1794,  John  Baker,  Pelham,  and  Hannah  Smith,  Hardwick. 


458  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

July  II,  1794,  Jonathan  Field,  Amherst,  and  Elisebeth  Johnson,  Pelham. 

July  18,  1794,  Froa  Shirtleiff,  and  Anne  Taylor,  Pelham. 

Dec.  4,  1794,  Ameriah  Belew,  and  Anne  Lotherige,  Pelham, 

Dec.  30,  1794,  Robert  King,  and  Sarah  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Jan.  15,  1795,  Archibald  Fergerson,  Hadley,  and  Polly  Latliam,  Pelham. 

May  14,  1795,  Frank  Peebles,  and  Polly  Billings,  Amherst. 

Feb.  19,  1795,  Daniel  Car  Gray,  and  Susannah  Crawford,  Pelham. 

Mar.  2,  1795,  Bildad  Searl,  Southampton,  and  Phebe  Gray,  Pelham. 

Mar.  12,  1795,  Isaac  Cowan  Hunter,  Greenwich,  and  Alice  Wilson,  Pelham. 

Aug.  27,  1795,  Patrick  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Lois  Hunter,  Greenwich. 

Oct.  13,  1795,  Bezebel  Whitney,  aud  Lucy  Shays,  Pelham. 

Oct.  22,  1792,  Jacob  Shaw,  Shutesbury,  and  Isabel  Gray,  Pelham. 

Mar.  2,  1796,  Joel  Conkey,  and  Molly  Thompson,  Pelham. 

June  2,  1796,  Gideon  Ingraham,  Amherst,  and  Mary  King,  Pelham. 

June  10,  1796,  Gideon  Hackett,  and  Lydia  Peeso,  Pelham. 

Nov.  10.  1796,  Aaron  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Ruth  Powers,  Shutesbury. 

Nov.  20,  1796,  Squire  Abbott,  and  Martha  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Nov.  27,  1796,  Seth  Sudden,  Hadley,  and  Sally  Latham,  Pelham. 

Dec.  17,  1796,  Levi  Crawford,  and  Martha  Gray,  Pelham. 

Jan.  7,  1797,  Robert  Gitte.  Hebran,  New  York,  and  Martha  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Jan.  20,  1797,  David  Conkey  and  Eunice  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Mar.  2,  1797,  Salvenus  Wood,  and  Polly  Gray,  Pelham. 

Julv  — ,  1797,  Stewart  James  Park,  and  Nancy  Gray,  Pelham. 

Aug.  24,  1797,  William  Berry,  New  Salem,  and  Sally  Ray,  Pelham. 

Sep.  7,  1797,  David  Winter,  and  Patty  Newcomb,  Pelham. 

Nov.  20.  1797,  Samuel  Hyde,  and  M^irgerett  Dickinson,  Pelham. 

Nov.  29,  1797,  Ephriam  Weler,  Shutesbury,  and  Rebecca  Crosett,  Pelham. 

Dec.  28,  1797,  Titus  Randel,  Greenwich,  and  Patty  Davidson,  Pelham. 

Dec.  28,  1797,  Ebenezer  Gates,  and  Sally  Washburn,  Pelham. 

April  3,  1798,  William  Berry,  and  Nancy  McMillen,  Pelham. 

Jan.  10,  1799,  James  Harkness,  Salem,  N.  Y.,  and  Polly  Rhodes.  Pelliam. 

May  2,  1799,  Isreal  Conkey  and  Hannah  Conkey,  Pelham. 

May  29.  1799,  Collister  Gray  and  Phebe  Tolynan,  Pelham. 

June  20,  1799,  John  Taylor  and  Martha  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Sept.  27,  1799,  Joseph  Peck,  Amherst,  and  Isabel  Hyde,  Pelham. 

Aug.  7,  1800,  Stephen  Graves,  Deerfield,  and  Lucy  Clark,  Pelham. 

Nov.  3,  1800,  William  Oliver  and  Polly  Macomber,  Pelham. 

Nov.  20,  1800,  Samuel  Allen  Jun  and  Betsey  Davison,  Pelham. 

Nov.  27,  1800,  Robert  Lotheridge  and  Mary  King,  Pelham, 

Dec.  23,  1800,  Seth  Dunbar,  Causenovia',  N.  Y.,  and  Anne  Collah,  Pelham. 

Dec.  25.  1800,  Ebenezar  Gray  Jr.  and  Anne  Peebles,  Pelham. 

Dec.  25,  iSco,  .Samuel  Peeso  and  Polly  Davinson^  Pelham. 

Feb.  6,  iSoi,  Robinson  Shepard,  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  Nabby  Leech,  Pelham. 

Feb.  13,  1801,  John  Clark,  Buckland,  and  Susannali  Clark.  }\lham, 

July  2,  1801,  David  Conkey  and  Patty  Washburn,  Pelham. 

Aug.  6,  iSoi,  Patrick  Peebles  and  Jenny  Gray,  Pelham. 


Sept.  i6, 

Sept.  i8, 

Jan.  7,  i{ 

Feb.  2,  I 

Nov.  — , 

Dec.  7,  1 

Dec.  7,  I 

Dec.  -, 

Dec.  30, 

Dec.  30, 

Mar.  I,  I 

May  20, 

CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM.  459 

,  1801,  Daniel  Harkness  and  Betsy  Hollan,  Pelham. 
,  1801,  George  Macomber  and  Anne  Harkness,  Pelham. 
-,  Daniel  Thompson  and  Sarah  Conkey,  Pelham. 
S02,  John  Stevenson,  Greenwich,  and  Elizabeth  Maklam,  Pelham. 
t8o2,  Patterick  Peebles  and  Anne  Hamilton,  Pelham. 
1802,  Asahel  Phelps,  Northampton,  and  Annie  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

1802,  John  Rinken  Jr.  and  Anne  Hunter,  Pelham. 
[802,  William  Bosworth  and  Lucy  Thorp,  Pelham. 

1802,  Samuel  Abercrombie  and  Lucinda  Castle,  Pelham. 
1802,  Uziel  Taylor,  South  Hadley,  and  Polly  Clark.  Pelham. 

1802,  Timothy  Leach  and  Hannah  Cutter,  Pelham. 

1803,  James  Conkey  and  Batty  Cowan,  Pelham. 

1803,  Caleb  Tilson,  Greenv^^ich,  and  Elizabeth  Thirsten,  Pelham. 
Oct.  27,  1803,  William  Wilson  and  Margerett  Abercrombie,  Pelham. 

,  James  Peebles,  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  Polly  Millen,  Pelham. 

Nov.  17,  1803,  David  Peebles,  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  Elisebeth  Hamilton, 

Pelham. 
Dec.  20,  1S03,  William  Smith  and  Rebecca  Abercrombie,  Pelham. 
Jan.  7,  1S04,  William  Lewfis,  Northfield,  and  Sally  Sears,  Pelham. 
Mar.  7,  1804,  Patrick  Phillips,  Boston,  and  Mary  Gaven  Oliver,  Pelham. 

1804,  John  Lotherige  and  Nancy  King,  Pelham. 

Oct.  4,  1804,  Laben  Bates,  Bellingham,  and  Chloe  Sampson,  Pelham. 

Nov.  26,  1804,  Job  Smith  and  Mahetable  Abercrombie,  Pelham, 

Nov.  29,  1804,  William  Hunter  Conkey,  and  Olive  Bryant,  Pelham. 

Nov.  27,  1804,  William  Pratt  and  Betsey  Hathaway,  Pelham. 

Dec.  — ,  1804,  Elisha  Baker  and  Esther  Cutler  Lathem,  Pelham. 

Dec.  15,  1804,  Andrew  Johnson  and  Juda  Chace.  Pelham. 

Jan.  19,  1805,  Nathan  Thayer,  Boston,  and  Phebe  Clough,  Pelham. 

Mar.  26,  1805,  Barna  Brigham  and  Anna  Hinds,  Pelham. 

July  I,  1805,  Job  Packard  and  Patty  Clark,  Pelham. 

Nov.  28,  1805,  Joseph  Rinken  and  Polly  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Dec.  27,  1805,  Andrew  Gray  and  Sally  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Mar.  13,  1806,  Abraham  Follet,  Cumberland,  R.   L,  and  Roxilana  Mitchel, 

Pelham. 
Nov.  26,  1806,  Levi  Cook  and  Anna  Hardin,  Pelham. 
Mar.  10,  1806,  Joseph  Whipple  and  Dolly  Cahoon.  Pelham. 

,  1807,  Warren  Conkey  and  Mary  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Feb.  24,  1807,  David  Griffin  and  Betty  Cleveland,  Pelham. 

Feb.  24.  1807,  Samuel  Caruth  Jr.  and  Susannah  Thompson, Pelham. 

Mar.  16,  1807,  John  Dunlap  and  Mary  Oliver,  Pelham. 

Mar.  16,  1807,  Samuel  M.  Pond  Esq.,  Norton,   and    jMarguerett  Danforth, 

Norton. 
July  14,  1807,  Smith  Arnold,  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  and  Susannah  Hall,  Pelham. 
July  14,  1807,  Gardner  Sloan  and  Sally  Berry,  Pelham. 
May  16,  1807,  Aaron  Clough  and  Mary  Andrews,  Hadley. 
May  16,  1807,  James  Stevenson,  Greenwich,  and  Anne  Conkey.  Pelham. 


460  HISTORY    OK    PELHAM,    MASS. 

April  26,  1807,  John  Thayer,  Belchertown,  and  Polly  Hayvvard,  Pelham. 

Aug.  10,  1807,  John  Wheeler,  Greenwich,  and  Sally  Vaughn,,  Pelham. 

Mar.  2,  1808,  Eli  Haskell,  Belchertown,  and  Betty  Fowler,  Pelham. 

April  26,  1808,  Isaac  Lazell,  Wardsborough,  and  Lucy  Wilson,  Pelham. 

June  23,  1808,  James  Hunter,  Ware,  and  Polly  Edson,  Pelham. 

July  6,  1808,  Pliny  Hannum,  Belchertown,  and  Polly  Arnold,  Pelham. 

Oct.  30,  1808.  Pliny  Wilson,  Belchertown,  and  Hannah  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Sept.  21,  1808,  Samuel  Orcut,  Wendall.  and  Mary  Wood,  Pelham. 

Oct.  13,  1808,  Ephraim  Arnold,  Belcliertown,  aud  Mary  Crozier,  Pelham. 

Jan.  26,  1809,  William  McFall  and  Judith  Parkins,  Pelham. 

May  25,  1809,  Daniel  Chapman,  Belchertown,  and  Nancy  Smith,  Pelham. 

Mar.  10,  1810,  John  Torrance,  Belchertown,  and  Chloe  Bartlett,  Pelham. 

Feb.  I,  1810,  Ezra  Brown  and  Polly  Lincoln,  Pelham. 

Aug.  22,  1810.  Ansel  Shaw  and  Lidia  Vaughn,  New  Salem. 

Jan.  2,  1810,  Daniel  Willson,  Belchertown,  and  Vesta  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Feb.  19,  181 1,  Isaac  Hamilton  and  Rachel  Hoar,  Pelham. 

Mar.  12,  181 1,  Joel  Hamilton  and  Abigail  Hoar,  Pelham. 

Nov.  19,  181 1,  James  Rankin  and  Margerett  Pratt,  Pelham. 

May  30,  181 1,  Luke  Willington,  Starling,  and  Eliza  Bennett,  Pelham. 

Mar.  24,  1812,  Henry  Kingman  and  Sally  Robinson,  Pelham. 

April  30,  1812,  Gardner  Sloan  and  Roxana  Gray,  Pelham. 

May  7,  1812,  John  M.  Thompson  and  Hannah  Millen,  Pelham. 

Dec.  19,  1812,  James  Crosett  and  Polly  Conkey,  Pelham. 

April  5,  1813,  Dea.  Joseph  Hamilton  and  Mrs.  Eunice  Cowan,  Pelham. 

May  18,  1H13,  John  Conkey  2'^  and  Sila  Cowan,  Pelham. 

June  24,  1813,  Thomas  Vaughn  Jun.,  Pelham,  and  Louisa  Shaw,  Greenwich. 

Sept.  27,  1813,  Patrick  Peebles,  .Madison,  and  Rebeckah  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Nov.  10,  1813,  Thomas  Fisher,  Pelham,  and  Abigail  Dickinson,  Shutesbury. 

Dec.  2,  1814,  Mr.  Josiah  Learned  and  Miss  Lucia  Childs,  Ware. 

Constant  Ruggles,  Justice  of  Peace. 
"  Pelham,  April  29,  1815. 

The  following  persons  have  been  married  by  me  since  March  last: 
April  19,  1815,  Giles  Rider,  Belchertown,  and  Mary  Brown,  Pelham. 
April  20,  18 15,  Zebina  Rankin  and  Nancy  Packard,  Pelham. 

WiNTHROP  Bailey,  Minister  of  Pelham." 

''  A  list  of  persons  joined  in  marriage  by  me  the  year  past: 
Mr.  Alexander  Bartlett,  Greenwich,  and  Miss  Lucy  Jones,  Pelham. 
Mr.  James  Lewis  and  Miss  Rachel  Abercrombie,  Pelham. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Newell  and  Charlotte  Newell,  Pelham. 
Mr.  Chester  Chapin,  Heath,  and  Miss  Pamelia  Gray,  Pelliam. 
Mr.  Wm.  Millen  and  Miss  Hannah  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Isaac  Aberckomhik,  Justic  of  Peace. 
Pelham,  March  6,  1815." 

Nov.  27,  1815,  Samuel  Clark,  Jr.,  and  Susan  Gray,  Pelham. 
Jan.  18,  1816,  David  Abercrombie  and  Mary  Eaton,  Pelham. 
July  28,  1816,  Perez  Ikown,  Belchertown,  and  Polly  Andrews.  Pelham. 


>i:V    OTIS    SAIITH.    WIFK    OF    JA.MKS    SMITH,    AT    No. 
Mother  of  Col.  James  \.  Smitli  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Dillon. 


C()NCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM.  46 1 

Dec.  31,  1814,  William  Milieu  Sr.,  and  Widow  Hannah  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Mar.  5,  1815,  James  Lewis  and  Rachel  Abercrombie,  Pelham. 

July  I,  1815,  Benjamin  Newell  and  Charlotte  Newell,  Pelham. 

Oct.  I,  1815,  Chester  Chapin,  Heath,  and  Pamela  Gray,  Pelham. 

Nov.  27,  1815,  Samuel  Clark  Jr.  and  Susanna  Gray,  Pelham 

Jan.  18,  1816,  David  Abercrombie  and  Mary  Eaton,  Pelham. 

Jan.  28,  1816,  Periss  Brown,  Belchertown,  and  Polly  Andrews,  Pelham. 

Feb.  15,  1S16,  John  Hunt,  Belchertown,  and  Esther  Hooker,  Pelham. 

Mar.  23,  1816,  James  Smith  and  Betsey  Otis,  Pelham. 

Feb.  15,  1816,  John  Hunt,  Belchertown,  and  Esther  Hooker,  Pelham. 

April  24,  1816,  Absalom  Lord,  Athol,  and  Clarissa  Hodgkins.  Pelham. 

April  25,  1816,  Adin  Ruggles  and  Cyntha  Snow,  Pelham. 

June  20,  18 [6,  Henry  Richardson  and  Saloma  Snow,  Pelham. 

July  4,  1S16,  James  Shaw,  Granby,  and  Eunice  Fales,  Pelham. 

July  4,  18 16,  John  Lindsey  Millen  and  Polly  Hyde,  Pelham. 

Dec.  12,  1816,  William  Harkness  and  Abigail  Turner,  Pelham. 

Feb.  5,  1817,  Charles  Billings,  Cazenovia,  and  Sarah  Hayden,  Pelham. 

Mar.  27,  1817,  Cyrus  Kingman  and  Phebe  Hayden,  Pelham. 

April  2,  1817,  Whipple  Cook  and  Aseneth  Grout,  Pelham. 

May  8,  1817,  Chester  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Lydia  Shaw,  New  Salem. 

May  15,  1817,  David  Millen  and  Laura  Wetherby,  Pelham. 

May  27,  1817,  Charles  Staples  and  Susanna  Mellen,  Pelham. 

June  ID,  181 7,  Francis  Adams,  New  Braintree,  and  Naomi  Gray,  Pelham. 

Sept.  23,  1817,  Ira  Millen,  Temple,  N.  H.,  and  Patty  Jones,  Pelham. 

Oct.  28,  1817,  Reuben  Newell  and  Serena  Packard,  Pelham. 

Dec.  24,  1817,  Arba  Albee  and  Sally  Lewis,  Pelham. 

Dec.  25,  1817,  Robert  Barton,  Enfield,  and  Ehnor  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Jan.  15,  18 18,  Zebina  Cook  and  Mary  Gray,  Pelham. 

Jan.  20,  1818,  Andrew  Sloan,  Waterford,    N.  Y.,  and  Mehetable  Conkey, 

Pelham. 
April  12,  1818,  Samuel  Currier,  Belchertown,  and  Malinda  Danforth,  Pelham. 
May  3,  1818,  Joseph  Hamilton  and  Sylvia  Cowan,  Pelham. 
May  21,  1818,  Barnabas  Sears,  Jr.,  and  Polly  Gray,  Pelham. 
May  21.  181S,  Daniel  Robins  Boston  and  Harriett  Willson,  Pelham. 
Oct.  10,  1819,  Cullen  Warner,  New  Marlboro,  and  Lucy  Cooley,  Pelham. 
Nov.  10,  1819,  John  Rider,  Pelham,  and  Rebeckah  Woods,  Enfield. 
Nov.  28,  1819,  Patrick  Millen  and  Judiath  Chadwick,  Pelham. 
May  23,  1819,  Moses  Davis,  Milford,  and  Sally  Boynton,  Pelham. 
June  8,  1819,  Lyman  Draper  and  Sally  Newell,  Pelham. 
June  17,  1819,  John  O.  Houston  and  Lucy  Taylor,  Pelham. 
Sept.  30,  1819,  David  Packard,  Enfield,  and  Azubah  Whipple,  Pelham. 
Nov.  II,  igiQj  Alanson  Chapin  and  Almira  Harrington,  Pelham. 
Jan.  29,  1820,  Lucius  Millen,  Marcellus,  N.  Y.,  and  Abigail  Mills,  Pelham. 
April  4,  182c,  Grove  W.  Hannum  and  Amelia  Brown  Newell,  Pelham. 
Mar.  I,  1821,  Lewis  Cook  and  Nancy  Fales,  Pelham. 
Mar.  22,  182 1,  Silas  Ballou,  Cumberland,  R.  L,  and  Sally  Harlow,  Pelham. 


462  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

April  19,  182 1,  Arba  Randall,  Belchertown,  and  Esther  Smith,  Pelham. 

May  27,  182 1,  Jason  Carpenter,  Hardwick,  and  Sarah  Gray,  Pelham. 

Oct.  8,  182 1,  Moses  Crosier,  Pelham,  and  Lucinda  Danforth,  Belchertown. 

Nov.  11,1821,  Lemuel  C.  Wedge  and  Cyntha  Westcott,  Pelham. 

Nov.  21,  1821,  Earl  Johnston  and  Nancy  Oliver,  Amherst. 

Dec.  6,  1821,  Learned  O.  Draper  and  Anna  Comstock,  Pelham. 

Dec.  6,   1821,  Chester  Hyde,  Bethlehem,    N.  Y.,   and  Katherine  Packard, 

Pelham. 
Dec.  25,  1821,  Jonas  Bridge,  New  Salem,  and  Nancy  Ayres,  Pelham. 
Dec.  26,  1822,  Abial  Rankin  and  Mary  A.  Bryant,  Pelham. 

Nearly  all  the  marriages  from  Nov.  27,   181 5,  to  December    182 1 
were  solemnized  by  Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey. 


''THEN  ENTERED  IN  PUBLICATION" 

The  usual  form  of  entry  of  marriage  intentions  was  as  in  the  fol- 
lowing record  of  actual  cases. 

"  March  Y*'  21^',  1772,  Then  Entered  in  Publication  John  Conkey  Juner  & 
Margarett  Abercrombie  Both  of  Pelham." 

"July  Y^  3''  1773  Then  Entered  in  Publication  Andrew  Abercrombie  & 
Mary  Conkey  Both  of  Pelham." 

The  time  elapsing  between  publication  and  marriage  varied  from  a 
few  weeks  preceding  marriage  to  several  months,  as  in  the  two  cases 
above  cited,  of  these  the  marriage  records  follow. 

"June  4"'  1772  Then  was  John  Conkey  Jun.  &  Margerett  Abercrombie, 
Both  of  Pelham  Joyned  in  Marriage." 

"  Nov.  22'*  1773  Then  was  Joyned  in  Marriage  Andrew  Abercrombie,  & 
Mary  Conkey,  Both  of  Pelham." 

Cases  of  publication  and  a  failure  of  consummation  by  marriage 
were  substantially  unknown  ;  and  the  publications  of  marriage  inten- 
tions are  given  as  the  next  best  thing  in  the  absence  of  a  record  of 
many  marriages,  which  were  probably  not  solemnized  in  Pelham,  or 
not  found  on  the  records. 

Sept.  3,  1769,  Starling  King,  Chesterfield,  and  Mary  Henderson,  Pelham. 
Mar.  17,  1770,  John  Peebles,  Pelham,  and  Anne  Shaw,  South  Brimfield. 
Sept.  9,  1770,  Elijah  McFarland,  Pelham,  and  Elisebeth  Heas,  Belshiretown. 
Sept.  14,  177 1,  Mathew  Clark,  Pelham,  and  Hannah  Stevens,  Salisbury. 
Sept.  3,  1773,  Adam  Clark,  Pelham  and  Jean  Stewart,  Braintree. 
Nov.  29,  1773,  Frederick  Denio,  Greenfield,  and  Lucy  Wood,  Pelham. 
April  2,  1774,  William  Cowden  and  Jean  Maklem.  Pelham. 


CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM.  463 

April  22,  1775,  John  McKee,  Pelham,  and  Lucy  Ramsdell,  Greenwich. 
Mar.  9,  1776,  William  Blair  and  Silence  Leach,  Pelham. 
April  27,  1776.  Joseph  Hulet,  Belshiretown,  and  Jean  Johnston,  Pelham. 
May  4,  1776,  Ebenezer  Gray  and  Agness  Berry,  Pelham. 
Sept.  I,  17S1,  John  Harkness  and  Keziah  Edson,  Pelham. 
Oct.  28,  1781,  John  Harkness  2^  Pelham,  and  Rachel  McNall,  Union. 
Sept.  8,  17S1,  James  Cowan,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Dunbar,  Winchendon. 
Nov.  3.  1781,  William  McMillen,  Pelham,  and  Hannah  Smith,  Holden. 
Nov.  20,  1781,  Benjimen  Hanks,  Belchertown,  and  Anne  Edson,  Pelham. 
Dec.  29,  1 78 1,  James  Dunlap  and  Nane  Selfridge,  Pelham. 
Mar.  14,  17S2,  Joshua  Conkey,  Pelham,  and  Millicent  Briggs,  Shutesbury. 
Mar.  29,  17S2,  John  Boltwood,  Amherst,  and  Harmony  Briggs,  Pelham. 
June  2,  1782,  Samuel  Boyc,  Blandford,  and  Ann  Dick,  Pelham. 
June  27,  1782.  Patrick  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Abigail  Sloan,  New  Salem. 
Sept.  6,  1782,  Levy  Dickinson,  Amherst,  and  Margarett  Peebles,  Pelham. 
Oct.  28,  1782,  Elisha  Conkey  and  Susannah  Thompson,  Pelham. 
Nov.  15,  17S2,  Reuben  Holland  and  Sarah  Conkey,  Pelham. 
Dec.  9,  17S2,  Barnabas  Faye,  Belshiertown  and  Chloe  Packard,  Pelham. 
Jan.  18,  17S3,  William  Baldwin  and  Sarah  Dunlap,  Pelham. 
Feb.  17,  1783,  Samuel  Wilhay,  Worcester,  and  Eanor  Conkey,  Pelham. 
■  Mar.  22,  1783,  Jonathan  Killogg,  Amherst,  and  Mary  Holland,  Pelham. 
April  I,  1783,  Jos  Hunter,  Pelham,  and  Sarah  Nilson,  Goshen. 
April  17,  1783,  John  White,  Belchiertown,  and  Elisebeth  Sloan,  Pelham. 
April  25,  1783,  Peter  King  and  Abigal  Ingram,  Pelham. 
Aug.  25,  1783,  Richard  Haden  and  Ellis  Hyde,  Pelham. 
Aug.  31,  1783,  William  Harkness.  Pelham,  and  Easter  Bridge,  Shutesbury. 
Oct.  24,  1783,  Abner  Ramsdale  and  Susannah  Scheil,  Pelham. 
Dec.  3,  1783,  Stephen  Anderson,  Ware,  and  Bridget  Southworth,  Pelham. 
Dec.  6,  1783,  Silvanus  Pratt  and  Lydiah  Southworth,  Pelham. 
Dec.  17.  1783,  Hugh  Smith  and  Jennet  McFall,  Pelham. 
Mar.  7,  1784,  Robert  Johnston  and  Katherine  Taylor,  Pelham. 
May  21,  1784,  Thomas  Conkey,  Pelham,   and  Ehsebeth  Duluphe,  Conway. 
July  24,  1784,  Joseph  Latham  and  Eunice  Dunbar,  Pelham. 
Sept.  15,  1784,  James  Harkness  and  Betsey  Edson,  Pelham. 
Sept.  25,  1784,  Doct  James  Wood,  Springfield,  and  Ana  Holland,  Pelham. 
Oct.  6, 1784,  Isaac  Dodge,  Chalton,  and  Nancy  Mcdonnal,  Pelham. 
Oct.  21,  1784,  John  Boltwood,  Amherst,  and  Sarah  Hayze,  Pelham. 
Dec.  24,  1784,  Ezekiel  Conkey  and  Elizebeth  Thompson,  Pelham. 
Jan.  26,  1785,  David  Houston  and  Sarah  Pebbles,  Pelham. 
Mar.  8,  17S5,  Jonathan  McMillen,  Dedham,  and  Sally  Freeman,  Greenwich. 
May  8,  1785,  John  Maclam,  Blandford,  and  Unice  Croset,  Pelham. 
May  8,  1785,  Benjimin  Bartlet  and  Rebeckah  Hill,  Pelham. 
July  17,  1785,  John  Barber  and  Zubee  Warran,  Pelham. 
Oct.  6,  1785,  George  Nukop  and  Mary  Fuller,  Pelham. 
Oct.  6,  1785,  Thomas  Gray  and  Lidia  Croset,  Pelham. 
Oct.  6,  1785,  Daniel  Harkness  and  Lidia  Hacket,  Pelham. 


464  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Feb.  12,  17S6,  Obed  Hunt,  Shutesbury,  and  Dolly  Barber,  Pelham. 

Mar.  5,  1786,  Cato  Dunsett,  Stamford,  and  Zube  Pratt,  Pelham. 

April  2,  1786,  William  Ashley  and  Nancy  Pumroy,  Pelham. 

May  II,  1786,  Josiah  McKee  and  Deborah  Barloe,  Pelham. 

May  II,  1786,  Luice  Baker,  Dedham,  and  Loise  Walker,  Hardwick. 

May  21,  1786,  John  Hamilton,  Jiin.,  and  Mary  Thomas,  Pelham. 

July  16,  1786,  Mathew  Gray  ye  third  and  Sarah  Croset,  Pelham. 

Sept.  16,  1786,  Samuel  Keruth,  Barry,  and  Martha  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Oct.  15,  1786,  Joel  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Martha  Linsey,  New  Salem. 

Oct.  19,  17S6,  Levi  Wood  and  Bethanie  Fuller,  Pelham. 

Oct.  25,  17S6,  William  Chote  Jun.,  and  Mary  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Jan.  I,  1787,  Oliver  Herroen,  Cambridge,  and  Molly  McCulloch,  Pelham. 

Jan.  6,  1787,  Henry  McCulloch  and  Martha  Hamilton,  Pelham. 

Feb.  II,  1787,  James  Hyde  and  Martha  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Feb.  II,  1787,  Eliot  Gray  2^  and  Hannah  Crawford,  Pelham. 

Mar.  13,  1787,  William  Cowan  and  Eunice  Dunbar,  Pelham. 

Mar.  31,  17S7,  Samuel  Stevenson  and  Martha  Sloan,  Pelham. 

April  28,  1787,  Obed  Hunt,  Shutesbury,  and  Lucy  Whitney,  Pelham. 

May  17,  17S7,  Then  personally  appeared  Mary  Barloe  of  Pelham  and  made 
Solloam  oath  that  Obed  Hunt  of  Shutesbury  solloamly  promised  to 
join  with  her  in  marriage  previous  to  her  (Lucy  Whitney)  entering  on 
Publication  with  him. 

Oct.  21,  1787,  Eli  Hamilton,  Greenfield,  and  Avis  Southard,  Pelham. 

Nov.  24,  1787,  Andrew  Conkey,  Shutesbury,  and  Martha  Marsh,  Pelham. 

Feb.  2,  1788,  Dea.  Mathew  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Jemina  McCorceles,  Colrain. 

Mar.  4,  1788,  James  Thompson  2'^  and  Hannah  Gray,  Pelham. 

Mar.  II,  1788,  William  Dunlap  and  Jennett  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Mar.  31,  1788.  John  McCulloch  and  Molly  Thompson,  Pelham. 

May  12,  1788,  Nehemiah  Dunbar,  Pelham.  and  Mary  Hunter  of  Greenwich. 

June  10,  1788,  Levi  Tinkham  and  Polly  Barloe,  Pelham. 

June  10,  1788,  Joseph  Renkin.  Pelham.  and  Jemina  Keet,  Leverick. 

June  28,  1788,  David  Billings,  Amherst,  and  Hannah  Hyde,  Pelham. 

July  II,  1788,  Jonathan  Ingraham  and  Mary  Haward,  Pelham. 

Aug.  21,  1788,  John  Thompson,  Jun.,  and  Katuron  Clark,  Pelham. 

Aug.  21,  1778,  Jedediah  Jewett,  Killinglee,  Ct,  and  Mary  Atkinson,  Pelham. 

Oct.  30,  1788,  Isreal  Crosett,  Pelham,  and  Martha  Hamilton,  Shutesbury. 

Dec.  15,  178S,  John  Hench  and  Parses  Blair,  Pelham. 

Jan.  3,  1789,  James  Lindsey  and  Margeret  Gray,  Pelham.  second  Parisli. 

Feb.  13,  1789,  Winchester  Peck,  Amlierst,  and  Lydia  Pirkens,  Pelham. 

Mar.  14,  1789,  Elihu  Hollan,  Pelham,  and  Elisebeth  Bradshaw,  Amherst. 

April  12,  1789,  Edward  Foster,  Jun.,  and  Vise  Shurtlieff,  Pelham. 

April  19,  1789,  Elihu  Haward  and  Tryol  Hay  ward,  Milford. 

July  31,  1789,  Jonathan  Harkness  and  Elisebeth  Thompson,  Pelham. 

Aug.  23,  1789,  William  Lindsey  and  Susannah  McMillen,  Pelham,  2''  Parish. 

Sept.  6,  1789,  Anthony  Cutler  and  Jemima  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Dee.  5,  1789,  Esq''  Isaac  Abercromljie  and  Martha  McCulloch.  Pelham. 


CONCERNING    THE    WOMEN    OF    PELHAM,  465 

Jan.  8,  1790,  Paul  Thurston,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Rodgers,  Ware. 

April  15,  1790,  Ichabod  Hay  ward  and  Ruth  Hacket,  Pelham. 

May  21,  1790,  John  Atkinson,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Woods,  Shutesbury. 

Aug.  22,  1790,  Jeremiah  Gray  and  Margaret  Gray,  Pelham. 

Feb.  14,  1791,  Thomas  Johnston,  Pelham,  and  Sarah  Bell,  Newport,  R.  I. 

Mar.  7,  1791,  James  Forbs,  Shoreham,  Vt.,  and  Sarah  Conkey,  Pelham. 

April  ID,  1791,  William    Forbush    Peebles,   Salem,    N.   Y.,   and  Elisebeth 

Religh,  Pelham. 
April  ID,  1791,  James  Bell,  Salem,  N.  Y.,  and  Isabel  Harkness,  Pelham. 
June  10,  1791,  Jeremiah  Hase  and  Levince  White,  Pelham. 
June  18,  1791,  Alexander  Conkey  and  Elenor  McConel,  Pelham. 
Aug.  20,  1 791,  Joseph  Shaw,  Canterbury,  Conn.,  and  Prudence  Robertson, 

Pelham. 
Aug.  2,  1791,  Elihu  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Martha  Wilson,  Oakham. 
Sept.  5,  1791,  Thomas  Brooks  and  Martha  Knapp,  Pelham. 
Sept.  5,  1791,  Ebijah  Edson  and  Sally  Atkinson,  Pelham. 
Oct.  3,  1791,  Jeremiah  McMillen  and  Nancy  Lindsey,  Pelham. 
Nov.  17,  1791,  George  Lindsay  and  Anne  McMillen,  Pelham.  2''  Parish. 
Jan.  10,  1792,  David  Huston  and  Martha  Pratt,  Pelham. 
Jan.  20,  1792,  David  Clarey,  Leverett,  and  Rhoda  Hayward,  Pelham. 
Feb.  12,  1792,  Justus  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Lucy  Tekiel,  Deerfield. 
Mar.  II,  1792,  Thomas  Harlow,  Pelham,  and  Sally  King,  New  Salem. 
Mar.  25,  1792,  John  Gray  and  Susannah  Hunter,  Pelham. 
June  30,  1792,  Isaac  Barlow  and  Hannah  Hacket,  Pelham. 
July  30,  1792,  Thomas  Johnston,  Pelham,  and  Lucy  Ashley,  Adams. 
Sept.  17,  1792,  William  Crosett,  Hebron,  N.  Y.,  and  Margeret  Gray,  Pelham. 
Sept.  30,  1792,  William  McMillen,  Pelham,  and  Jean  Linsey.  New  Salem. 
Nov.  10,  1792,  Samuel  Hyde  and  Rachel  Peebles,  Pelham. 
Jan.  5,  1793,  James  Joans,  Shutesbury,  and  Sarah  Leach,  Pelham. 
Jan.  18,  1793,  Andrew  Hyde,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Morton,  Amherst. 
Feb.  5, 1793,  Hugh  Moore  Johnston,  Pelham,  and  Levina  Powers,  Shutesbury 
Feb.  5,  1793,  Seth  Foster  and  Hannah  Shays,  Pelham. 
July  8,  1793,  Moses  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Marcy  Whiteham,  New  Salem. 
Sept.  22,  1793,  Joseph  Robeson,  Greenwich,  and  Sarah  Wilson,  Pelham. 
June  23,  1794,  John  Eaton,  Jan.,  Pelham,  and  Sally  Cudworth,  Barkley. 
June  23,  1794,  Jonathan  Field,  Amherst,  and  Elisebeth  Johnston,    Pelham. 
Sept.  7,  1794,  Abisha  Sampson,  Pelham,  and  Damaries  King,  Taunton. 
Oct.  20,  1794,  Abiah  Southworth,  Pelham,  and  Keziah  Boltwood,  Amherst. 
Jan.  19,  1795,  John  Cole,  New  Salem,  and  Sarah  Thompson,  Pelham. 
Feb.  19,  1795,  Robert  Stutson,  Greenwich,  and  Isa  Crosett,  Pelham. 
Jan.  10,  1796,  Berthiah  Holcomb  Granger,  Hadley,  and  Sarah  Peeso,  Pelham. 
Mar.  6,  1796,  James  Thompson,  Pelham,  and  Mitilda  Parce,  Shutesbury. 
April   3,   1796,  Jonathan  Leach,   Pelham,    and   Lydia   Amerson   Pettengall, 

Belchertown. 
Oct.  25,  1796,  Aaron  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Ruth  Powers,  Shutesbury. 
July  2,  1797,  Eliphaz  Eaton,  Pelham,  and  Polly  Barns,  Greenwich. 


466  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Sept.  24,  1797,  John  Gray  3'',  and  Batsey  Rinken,  Pelham. 

Oct.  14,  1797,  Calvin  Ashley  and  Matilda  Mun,  Pelham. 

July  22,  1798,  David  Winter  and  Polly  Newton,  Pelham. 

July  22,  1798,  William  Barry  2'^,  New  Salem,  and  Sally  Ray,  Pelham. 

Sept.  13,  1798,  Levi  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Abigail  Robbins,  Belchertown. 

Oct.  14,  1798,  Seth  Bryant  and  Nabby  Baker,  Pelham. 

Oct.  14,  1798,  Morrel  Leach  and  Rebekah  Howard,  Pelham. 

Mar.  24,  1799,  EHas  Shaw,  Belchertown,  and  Mary  Thurston,  Pelham. 

Aug-.  II,  1799,  Patrick  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Battsey  Moor,  Chester. 

Oct.  5,  1799,  Henry  Strobridge,  Xorthfield,  and  Anne  Montgomery,  Pelham. 

Oct.  7,  1799,  Robert  Abercrombie  and  Mary  Thurston,  Pelham. 

Oct.  10,  1799,  Gaius  Right,  Pelham,  and  Lucy  Sheldon,  Ludlow. 

Nov.  17,  1799,  Samuel  Briten,  Pelham,  and  Bashaba  Haskins,  New  Salem. 

May  II,  i8oo,  Seth  Draper,  Belchertown,  and  Polly  Haden,  Pelham. 

May  25,  1800,  Ebenezer  Lyskem,  Pelham,  and  Hannah  Lach,  New  Salem. 

June  22,  1800,  Stephen  Graves,  Deerfield,  and  Lucy  Clark,  Pelham. 

July  19,  1800,  James  Bruce,  Greenwich,  and  Sally  Wright,  Pelham. 

Sept.  7,  1800,  Nathan  Falten  and  Mary  Hinds,  Pelham. 

Sept.  29,  1800,  Lockwood  Barry  and  Polly  Childs,  Pelham. 

Dec.  18,  1800,  Samuel  Miller  and  Jinney  Sloan,  Pelham. 

Sept.  28,  1801,  William  Hunter,  Pelham,  and  Abigail  Andros,  Belchertown. 

Nov.  15,  1801,  Oliver  Hamilton  and  Battsey  Gray,  Pelham. 

Mar.  7,  1802,  Amos  Blackamore,  Greenwich,  and  Margeret  Gray,  Pelham. 

June  27,  1802,  Calister  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Hannah  Cahoon,  Greenwich. 

Oct.  24,  1802,  Agnostius  Chase,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Arnold.  Belchertown. 

May  2,  1803,  George  Smith  and  Battsey  Cleveland,  Pelham. 

Oct.  15,  1803,  Eliab  Packard,  Pelham,  and  Lyda  Forde,  Abingdon. 

Nov.  26,  1S03,  William  Shaw,  Belchertown,  and  Eunice  Baker,  Pelham. 

April  9,  1804,  James  Sloan  and  Hannah  Leach,  Pelham. 

Aug.  14,  Obed  Dickinson,  Pelham,  and  Experience  Smith,  Whately. 

Nov.  II,  1804,  Andrew  Johnston  and  Judah  Chase,  Pelham. 

Dec.  25,  1804,  William  Paul,  Greenwich,  and  Catrin  Rice,  Pelham. 

Mar.  3,  1805,  Nathan  Peso,  Pelham,  and  Lucretia  Dorety,  Hardwick. 

May  20,  1805,  Joseph  Howard,  Pelham,  and  Olive  Lanord,  New  Salem. 

Sept.  30,  1805,  Major  John  Conkey,  Pelham,  and  Polly  Dolan,  New  Salem. 

Oct.  21,  1805,  John  Falton,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Cahoon,  New  Salem. 

Oct.  27,  1805,  Thomas  Fisher,  Pelham,  and  Venis  Simons,  Shutesbury. 

Oct.  27,  1805,  Thomas  Sampson,  Pelham,  and  Bettsey  Darling,  Amherst. 

Nov.  25,  1805,  David  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Ester  Clough,  Belchertown. 

Dec.  I,  1805,  Nathanial  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Philena  Macomber,  Shutesbury. 

Dec.  I,  1805,  Andrew  Gray  and  Sally  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Dec.  15,  1805,  Seth  Field,  Leverett,  and  Margery  Lotherige,  Pelham. 

Aug.  31,  1806,  Paul  Thurston,  Pelham,  and  Mary  Moody,  Amherst. 

Nov.  23,  1806,  Levi  Cook  and  Anne  Montgomery,  Pelham. 

Jan.  II,  1807,  John  Ward  Jr.,  Belchertown,  and  Polly  Davison,  Pelham. 

Feb.  4,  1807,  Theverick  Weeks,  Petersham,  and  Lydia  Borden,  Pelham. 


CONCERNING  THE  WOMEN  OF  PELHAM.  467 

June  6,  1807,  Rufus  Mellin  and  Eunice  Hyde,  Pelhani. 

June  19,  1807,  Isaac  Powers,  Madison,  N.  Y.,  and  Anne  Mellin,  Pelham. 

Aug.  13,  1807,  Isaac  A.  Conkey  and  Vesta  Hinds,  Pelham. 

Oct.  10,  1807,  Jasper  Stearns,  Pelham,  and  Patty  Wyman,  Winchendon. 

Oct.  27,  1807,  Eli  Gray  and  Elizabeth  Conkey,  Pelham. 

Nov.  14.  1807,  Barzillia  Packard,  Belchertovvn,  and  Olive  Rider,  Pelham. 

Dec.  5, 1807,  Amos  Tylor,  Hinsdale,  and  Widow  Phinneus  Larrabee,  Pelham. 

Jan.  2,  1808,  Alexander  Conkey  Jr.,  Pelham,  and  Lucy  McColough,  Colrain. 

Jan.  23,  1808,  Joel  Johnson,  Pelham,  and  Alenda  Fails,  Holden. 

June  25,  180S,  Nathaniel  Wheeler,    Shutesbury,    and    Faithful    Herrington, 

Pelham. 
July  9,  1808,  Elisha  Graves,  Leverett,  and  Sarah  Hinds,  Pelham. 
Aug.  27,  1808,  Samuel  Orcutt,  Wendal,  and  Widow  Mary  Wood,  Pelham. 
Sep.  16,  1808,  David  Mellin,  Pelham,  and  Hannah  Patch,  Stowe. 
Oct.  I,  180S,  David  Ide,  Amherst,  and  Lucy  Draper,  Pelham. 
Oct.  8,  180S,  Pliny  Wilson,  Belchertown,  and  Hannah  Thompson,  Pelham. 
Nov.  8,  1808,  Oliver  Smith,  Pelhani,  and  Sarah  Gay,  Walpole. 
Nov.  25,  1808,  Nathan  Pettengall,  Belchertown,  and  Lavinia  Tower,  Pelham. 
Feb.  17,  1809,  Isaac  Tower  Jr.,  Pelham,  and  Polly  Haskell,  Belchertown. 
•Mar.  I,  1809,  Noble  Keep,  Jeffrey,  N.  H.,  and  Anna  Johnson,  Pelham. 
May  6,  1809,  Hafifield  Gould,  Pelham,  and  Betsey  Phelps,  Holden. 
May  6,  1809,  John  Berry  and  Betty  Millen,  Pelham. 
July  27,  1809,  Levi  Millen  and  Patty  Sears,  Pelham. 

Aug.  12,  1809,  Rozel  Knowlton,  Belchertown,  and  Prudence  Conkey,  Pelham. 
Sept.  9,  1809,  Rev.  Sebastian  Collumbus  Cabott,  Pelham,  and  Electa  Osburne, 

Belchertown. 
Sept.  12,  1809,  William  Millen,  Jr.,  Pelham,  and  Sally  Snow,  Greenwich. 
Nov.  4,  1809,  Pattrick  Millen,  Pelham,  and  Livena  Sadler,  Ashfield. 
Mar.  I,  1810,  James  Cook,  Pelham,  and  Martha  Moody,  Amherst. 
Mar.  15,  1810,  Andrew  Thompson  and  Almedia  Keep,  Pelham. 
Mar.  24,  1810,  Patrick  Gray  Jr.,  Pelham,  and  Sally  Pierce,  New  Salem. 
Dec.  8,  iSio,  John  Harkness  Jr.,  Pelham,  and  Esther  Willson,  Belchertown. 
Jan.  II,  1811,  Samuel  Kimball,  Shutesbury,  and  Polly  Cook,  Pelham. 
April  8,  181 1,  Josiah  Pierce  Jr.,  Pelham,  and  Ruth  Ayers,  Greenwich. 
June  I,  181 1,  Thomas  Packard,  Pelham,  and  Estha  Powers,  Greenwich. 
July  6,  181 1,  Rufus  Nowley  and  Olive  Prat,  Pelham. 

Aug.  3,  181 1,  Benony  Streter,  Cumberland,  R.  L,  and  Sally  Allen,  Pelham. 
Jan.  4,  1812,  Luther  Pomroy,  Amherst,  and  Elizabeth  Tower,  Pelham. 
Mar.  10,  1812,  Nahum  Wedge,  Pelham,  and  Rhoda  Chapin,  Heath. 
Mar.  27,  1812,  Daniel  Dodge,  Pelham,  and  Esther  Brown,  Belchertown. 
April  15,  181 2,  John  Berry  and  Dorcas  Thompson,  Pelham. 
April  18,  1812,  Benjamin  Bard,  Belchertown,  and  Lucy  Davison,  Pelham. 
Sept.  26,  1812,  William  Abercrombie  and  Abigail  Bell,  Pelham. 
Dec.  9,  1813,  Silas  Rankin,  Pelham,  and  Sally  Robbins,  Belchertown. 
Mar.  20,  1813,  David  Millen  and  Patty  Rankin,  Pelham. 
Aug.  16,  1813,  Jonathan  F.  Sears,  Pelham,  and  Polly  Town,  Greenwich. 


468  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Aug.  21,  1813,  James  Hood  and  Nancy  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Sept.  27,  1813,  Collins  Braly  and  Lurana  Jilson,  Pelham. 

Jan.  29,  1814,  Josiah  Smith,  Boston,  and  Chloe  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Jan.  29,  1814,  Oliver  Smith,  Boston,  and  Lovicey  Harkness,  Pelham. 

Jan.  29,  1814,  Samuel  J.  Lincoln,  Pelham,  and  Diana  Brown,  Belchertown. 

June  24,  1814,  Alvan  Hill,  Shutesbury,  and  Polly  Cleavlin,  Pelham. 

Aug.  29,  1814,  Lieut.  John  Gray,  Pelham,  and  Patty  Smith,  Rutland. 

Sept.  3,  1814,  James  Cowan  and  Lovina  Miller,  Pelham. 

Oct.  3,  1814,  Daniel  Reeniff,  Pelham,  and  Rhoda  Comins,  Shutesbury. 

Oct.  7,  1814,  Moses  Williams,  Amherst,  and  Teurah  Bartlett,  Pelham. 

Mar.  17,  1815,   Daniel  Woods,   New  Braintree,    and  Widow  Nabby  Joslin, 

Pelham. 
Sept.  2,    1815,    Benjamin   Wheeler,    New    Malborough,   and   Anna   Dunn, 

Pelham. 
Note.— The  names  of  those  married  or  published,  are  printed  as  written  upon  the  records. 


BIRTHS. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  to  undertake  publishing  a  list  of  births  for 
any  long  period  after  the  settlement  of  the  town,  but  some  of  the 
earlier  births  may  have  interest.  The  earliest  birth  record  was  a 
paper  covered  blank  book,  and  the  earliest  entries  have  become  so 
worn  and  torn  that  not  all  of  the  entries  can  be  made  out  clearly, 
though  as  originally  written  they  were  very  plain  and  distinct,  though 
somewhat  too  closely  written.  One  of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  first 
birth  record  was  that  of  a  daughter  to  Thomas  Dick  and  Margarett 
Dick,  but  that  portion  of  the  leaf  on  which  the  names  of  children 
were  written  has  been  lost.  We  give  the  full  list  of  Thomas  and 
Margerett's  children : 

Dau.  born  Dec.  ye  18,  1738.  Dau.  born  Sept.  ye  31st,  1746. 

Dau.  born  Jan.  ye  4th,  1740.  Dau.  born  Sept.  ye  17th,  1748. 

Dau.  born  Aug.  ye  29th,  1742.  Son  born  May  ye  12th,  1750. 

Son  born  Oct.  ye  7th,  1743.  Dau.  born  June  ye  15th,  1752. 

Dau.  born  May  ye  4th,  1744.  Dau.  born  June  ye  14,  1754. 

The  family  of  the  first  settled  minister,    Rev.  Robert  Abercronibie 

and  Margarett  Stevenson  Abercronibie  : 

David,  said  to  have  been  taken  prisoner  at  Bunker  Hill. 

Andrew,  married  Mary  Conkey,  Nov.  22,  1773. 

James,  married  Margery  Conkey,  Dec.  5,  1780. 

Margerett,  married  John  Conkey,  Jr.,  1772. 

Samuel,  married  Lucinda  Castle,  Dec.  1802. 

John,  died  at  Fort  Edward. 

William,  married  ist  Jemima  Darling;  2d,  Mrs.  Nabby  Pease. 

Sarah,  born  Oct.  11,  1756,  never  married,  died  Dec.  8,  1854. 

Rol^ert,  married  Mary  Thurston. 

Isaac,  born  Sept.  30,  1759,  married  Martha  McCulIoch,  Jan.  6,  1790. 

Mehetable,  born  July  4,  1767,  married  William  Akers. 


PROFESSIONAL    AND    BUSINESS    MEN.  469 

The  family  of   Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham,   the  second  settled 

pastor,  and  Molly  Graham  : 

William  Lee,  born  Mar.  7,  1762.  Nabby  Peggy,  born  June  23,  1766. 

Becca,  born  Feb.  7,  1764.  David,  born  Aug.  8,  1769. 

"  Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham,  Husband  to  Madam  Molly  Graham 
Departed  this  life  Feb.  y''26,  1761." 

The  family  of  Rev.  Andrew  Oliver,  the  fourth  settled   pastor,  and 

Battsey  Oliver  : 

Mary  Given,  born  July  11,  17S6. 

Jenny  Fulirton,  born  June  16,  1788. 

Wm.  Morrison  born  in  Londonderry,  Oct.  15,  1791. 

Battsey  Ormston,  born  in  Londonderry,  Feb.  22.  1793. 

Nancy,  born  Nov.  4,  1796. 

Margarett,  born  Nov.  4,  1798. 

Robert  Ormston,  born  May  2,  1802. 

Probably  the   first  four  in   the  list  were  all  born  in   Londonderry, 

N.  H.,  and  the  last  three  in  Pelham.     The  size  of  the  families  in  the 

earlier  years  of  the  town   is  indicated  by  transcripts  from  the  birth 

records  of  a  few  families  copied  from  the  much  worn  pamphlet  used 

from  the  first   settlement  of  the  town  ;  it  also  gives  evidence  of  the 

numbers  who   bore   the    surname  of  Thompson.     Children  of  John 

and  Prudence  Thompson  : 

Mary,  born  July  5,  1758.  Molly,  born  Oct.  6,  1770. 

Thomas,  born  April  20,  1760.  Sarah,  born  Jan.  5.  1773. 

Susanna,  born  Mar.  19,  1762.  George,  born  July  15,  1775. 

Elesebeth,  born  April  10,  1764.  Daniel,  born  May  4,  1777. 

John,  born  Aug.  6,  1766.  Eunice,  born  Oct.  i,  17S0. 
Martha,  born  Aug.  13,  1768. 

Children  of  Joseph  and  Margarett  'Phompson  : 

Jacob,  born  Nov.  7,  1774.  Elesebeth,  born  June  5,  1783. 

Jane,  born  Nov.  17,  1775.  Molly,  born  Mar.  16,  1785. 

Mirriam,  born  April  27,  1777.  Martha,  born  Sept.  11,  1787. 

William,  born  Sept.  29,  1778.  Achsah,  born  May  23,  1789. 

Joseph,  born  Mar.  13,  1780.  Joel,  born  April  23,  1791. 

James,  born  Sept.  9,  1781.  Sarah,  born  May  11,  1793. 

The  usual  form  of  death  record  was  as  follows  : 

"James  Peebles  departed  this  life  March  6'"  1784— Husband  to  Rachel 
Peebles." 

"  Levi  Thompson  Departed  this  life  Nov.  19,  1791— Son  to  Thomas  and 
Jean  Thompson.'' 

"  Rebecivah  Selfridge  Departed  this  life  January  3'>  1815,  daughter  to 
Edward  and  Elisebeth  Selfridge." 

"Margeret  Cowan  departed  this  life  June  22"''  1808 — wife  to  James 
Cowan." 

No  ages  were  ever  given  upon  the  record  book,  of  those   whose 

deaths  were  recorded. 


Mount    Lincoln. 


Mount  Lincoln  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  old  meeting 
house,  or  town  hall,  in  a  southwesterly  direction.  When  covered 
with  forest  it  was  known  as  Pine  Hill.  The  height  is  given  by  the 
state  survey  as  1220  feet  above  tide  water.  It  is  not  remarkably  high 
when  compared  with  Greylock,  the  highest  point  in  the  state,  which 
is  3500  feet  above  the  sea,  or  with  Wachusett  which  lifts  its  head 
2500  feet  above  tide.  But  the  wide  extent  of  the  view  from  Mt. 
Lincoln  is  quite  remarkable.  The  route  to  the  mountain  from 
Amherst  is  by  the  old  county  highway,  and  from  the  west  line  of 
Pelham  a  part  of  the  way  it  is  the  same  as  the  sixth  chartered  turn- 
pike built  in  Massachusetts,  which  began  at  the  east  line  of  Amherst 
and  extended  to  Worcester,  the  company  being  chartered  June  22, 
1799.  The  ascent  really  begins  as  soon  as  the  limits  of  Pelham  are 
reached,  and  one  on  a  trip  to  the  mountain  must  be  content  to  take 
time  and  drive  slowly.  When  the  summit  is  reached  one  finds  him- 
self in  position  to  sweep  the  entire  circle  of  the  horizon  with  unob- 
structed vision  as  there  is  no  higher  land  near  by  to  prevent. 

To  the  west  and  seemingly  close  at  hand  Amherst,  with  its  colleges, 
its  straw  factories,  its  churches,  residences  and  farm  houses,  is  in  full 
view  ;  Hadley's  two  spires,  Hatfield  with  one,  Northampton,  East- 
hampton,  Westhampton,  Williamsburg,  Worthington  and  other  hill 
towns  of  Western  Hampshire  beyond  the  Connecticut  river  valley 
and  the  farther  away  hills  of  eastern  Berkshire  can  be  seen.  At 
the  left  Mount  Holyoke  and  Tom  crowned  with  mountain  houses, 
and  south  of  them  the  towns  of  Granby  and  South  Hadley  and  the 
cities  of  Holyoke  and  Springfield ;  while  still  farther  south,  across 
the  state  of  Connecticut,  we  believe  East  and  West  Rock  may  be 
seen  under  best  conditions  of  atmosphere. 

Toward  the  northwest  Whately,  Conway,  Sunderland,  South  Deer- 
field,  and  farther  on  the  wild  country  of  Franklin  county ;  while  the 
mass  of  blue  far  beyond  is  the  rounded  top  of  Greylock,  and  the 
Green  mountain  range  of  southern  Vermont.  Sugar  Loaf,  with  its 
red  sandstone  cliff  seems  but  a  hillock,  and  farther  to  the  right  are 


TOWER   ON    MOUXT    LINCOLN. 


MOUNT    LINCOLN. 


47^ 


VIEW    FROM    THE    ENFIELD    ROAD   TO    THE    HIGHWAY    LEADING    TO   PELHAM    CENTRE. 


the  rounded  masses  of  Mt.  Toby,  while  bej'ond  them  are  distant 
mountains  in  Southern  Vermont. 

To  the  north  the  steeples  of  the  two  churches  at  Shutesbury  are 
seen  above  the  high  land  in  the  north  part  of  Pelham,  and  beyond 
the  church  at  Pelham  center,  New  Salem  is  in  full  view.  In  the 
same  direction  Mount  Monadnock  in  New  Hampshire  looms  up, 
and  farther  to  the  east,  Wachusettin  this  state  is  visible.  Portions  of 
Enfield,  Prescott,  Hardwick  and  New  Braintree  appear  more  directly 
east,  while  far  away  Rutland  and  other  western  Worcester  towns 
can  be  located  when  the  afternoon  sun  shines  clearly  upon  them. 
To  the  south  portions  of  Belchertown  and  Granby  are  not  far  away, 
but  owing  to  the  height  of  "Great  hill"  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
former  town  the  center  of  the  town  cannot  be  seen  ;  the  ranges  of 
hills  and  mountains  beyond  are  located  in  eastern  Hampden  or 
farther  away.  Close  at  hand  the  eye  rests  upon  forest  or  young 
growth  of  trees  with  now  and  then  a  farm-house  ;  probably  more  of 
the  tract  now  known  as  Pelham  and  purchased  of  John  Stoddard  of 
Northampton  can  be  seen  here  than  from  any  other  point. 

It  was  from  Mt.  Lincoln  that  beacon  fires  flashed  forth  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  when  it  was  necessar}'-  to  give  alarm  to  the 
sturdy  yeoman  in  this  section  of  the  state ;  and  during  the  geodetic 
survey  of  the  state  the  surveyors  established  a  station  from  which 


472  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

triangulations  could  be  made  with  other  stations  of  similar  character 
miles  away. 

Looking  toward  the  west  from  the  summit  of  Mt.  Lincoln  the 
nearest  farm  buildings  are  those  of  Uncle  Reuben  Allen  and  Char- 
lotte Johnson  Allen,  his  wife.  Here,  far  up  the  slope  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  perhaps  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  nearest  neighbor, 
Mr.  Allen  cultivates  the  acres  of  his  farms,  raises  potatoes  and  corn, 
gathers  hay  enough  to  keep  his  horse  and  two  cows,  and  every  Sat- 
urday in  sunshine  or  storm  drives  down  from  his  high  perch  to 
Amherst  with  butter  and  eggs  to  his  customers,  and  carries  back 
groceries  and  other  necessaries  for  the  coming  week  in  his  home  and 
on  the  farm.  Sunday  he  rests,  and  on  Monday  resumes  his  labors 
again  on  the  farm  ;  the  days  go  by  one  by  one  until  another  Satur- 
day comes  and  the  customary  trip  to  market  is  undertaken  in  the 
same  thrifty  business-like  way  as  the  previous  week.  The  weeks  of 
summer  pass  with  a  repetition  of  the  simple  round  of  duty  and  labor 
little  varied  from  week  to  week,  and  w^hen  the  winter  comes  and  the 
chilling  winds  pile  the  snow  into  drifts,  the  days  are  passed  in  haul- 
ing wood  from  the  nearby  forest,  cutting  it  for  the  lires,  the  care 
of  his  horse,  his  cows,  and  his  hens, until  the  market  day  comes  with 
its  imperative  duty. 


Old   Burial  Places. 


A    SKETCH  OF    EACH  OF   THE  ELEVEN  BURIAL  PLACES 
OF  PELHAM. 

THE  OLD  BURIAL  GROUND  AT  THE  CENTER. 

When  the  sturdy  Scotch  Presbyterian  settlers  took  possession  of 
the  tract  of  land  now  known  as  Pelham  in  1739,  it  was  surveyed  and 
plotted  by  William  Young,  surveyor,  and  ten  acres  was  set  apart  on 
the  West  Hill  for  use  as  "  common,  training  field  and  burial  ground." 
The  old  burial  ground  in  the  rear  of  the  ancient  town  hall,  which  the 
settlers  began  to  build  for  use  as  a  church  almost  as  soon  as  they 
settled,  was  the  first  established  burial  place  in  the  town  and  is 
within  the  ten  acres  set  apart  as  stated  above. 

Perhaps  an  acre  and  a  half  of  ground  is  included  by  the  heavy 
stone  fence.  Here  the  early  settlers  were  laid  to  rest  when  they 
died,  and  the  ancient  moss-covered  stones,  stand  as  sentinels  above 
them.  Enough  of  the  inscriptions  can  be  read  to  show  that  Scotch 
names  predominated  where  none  are  heard  now.  Such  names  as 
McMillan,  Patterson,  Peebles,  Gilmore,  Thurston,  Dunlap,  Houston, 
Cowan  and  Johnston  are  frequently  found  on  these  rough  stones. 

The  first  settled  minister,  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie,  was  buried 
here  though  no  stone  marks  his  grave  ;  and  'tis  said  that  the  old 
church  now  used  as  a  town  hall  was  moved  back  into  the  burial 
ground,  covering  some  of  the  graves,  and  that  of  the  first  minister 
among  the  rest.  Recently,  however,  this  has  been  disproved  and 
the  location  of  Mr.  Abercrombie's  grave  has  been  established,  it  is 
thought,  and  a  large  boulder  with  a  suitable  inscription  is  to  be 
placed  at  the  head  of  his  grave,  behind  the  town  hall  and  near  the 
west  wall  of  the  enclosure.  Not  all  accept  this  as  the  true  location, 
however. 

Rev.  Richard  Crouch  Graham,  second  pastor  of  the  Pelham  Pres- 
byterian church,  died  at  the  age  of  32,  and  a  large  stone  marks  his 
grave  showing  that  he  died  in  177 1.  One  of  the  oldest  fairly  legible 
inscription  is  on  a  stone  above  the  grave  of  Margaret  Hood  who 
died  in  1758. 


474  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

Perhaps  the  oldest  record  of  burial  by  an  inscribed  stone  is  that 
of  "  Margerett,  Wife  of  Alexander  Conkey,  who  died  Nov.  13,  1756 
in  ye  75th  year  of  her  age."  There  are  many  graves  which  show 
only  as  low  mounds  with  no  stones  at  the  head  or  foot,  and  others 
with  only  rough  stones  without  inscriptions  and  sunk  to  a  level  with 
the  mounds  they  were  intended  to  mark.  Of  the  inscribed  stones 
very  few  are  of  marble,  but  black  slate  slabs  are  common.  A  coarse 
dark  grey  stone  was  much  used  and  was  probably  quarried,  split  out 
and  inscribed  by  the  people  here.  These  gray  stones  are  covered 
with  moss  and  the  inscriptions  are  so  much  obliterated  as  to  make  it 
almost  impossible  to  decide  whose  remains  lie  beneath  them.  The 
storms  of  a  century  and  a  half  have  beat  upon  them,  the  frosts  of 
winter  have  heaved  them,  some  lean  one  way,  others  the  opposite 
way,  few  stand  erect,  and  some  have  fallen  and  cover  the  mounds ; 
others  are  broken  and  stand  against  the  wall  of  the  enclosure  where 
some  kindly  hand  has  placed  them. 

No  burials,  have  been  made  in  this  ancient  burial  ground  for  many 
years  ;  and  of  many  lying  here  it  can  be  said  none  bearing  their 
names  are  now  living  in  town.  The  grass  that  grows  among  the 
grave-stones  is  mowed  every  summer  and  carried  away,  so  that  the 
chance  visitor  can  walk  among  the  graves  of  the  first  settlers  and 
recall  their  sturdy  virtues,  but  not  much  money  is  expended  to 
beautify  and  adorn  the  place.  In  the  early  summer  the  white  daisy 
blooms  in  profusion  among  the  time  worn  slabs  and  upon  the  graves. 

THE    WEST    BURYING    GROUND. 

A  mile  or  so  west  by  the  main  or  middle  range  road  is  another 
ancient  burial  place.  It  waslaid  out  as  early  as  1760.  and  is  located 
upon  a  hillock  which  commands  a  magnificent  view  down  the  valley 
westward,  with  Amherst,  the  Holyoke  range  and  the  Connecticut 
river  valley  in  the  distance.  As  it  is  reached  by  an  untravelled 
by-way  leading  off  from  the  main  road,  no  one  passing  through  the 
town  on  a  carriage  drive  ever  passes  this  old  burial  place.  It  is 
somewhat  larger  in  area  than  the  one  just  described  at  the  center  of 
the  town  and  is  used  occasionally  for   burials  now. 

Here  we  find  many  well  remembered  names  of  families  that  were 
large  and  prosperous  during  the  first  half  of  this  century.  Descend- 
ants of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie,  are  buried  here.  William  and 
Isaac  Abercrombie   with  their  families  are    here,  the  former  buried 


HE   OLD   GRAVE   YARD    AT   THE   CENTER. 


J.    \V.    KEITH  S    RESIDENCE. 


OLD    BURIAL    PACES.  475 

in  1811  and  the  latter  in  1837.  Descendants  of  another  family  of 
original  settlers  are  found  here,  the  Grays.  John  Gray,  ruling  elder, 
died  in  1782,  aged  82,  his  wife  in  1799  at  92.  Nathaniel  Gray,  in 
1777  ^t  32,  Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray,  probably  the  good  deacon  to 
whom  Stephen  Burroughs  offered  his  services  as  "  Supplyer,"  and 
showed  his  letter  of  recommendation  from  the  Palmer  pastor  in  17S4, 
was  laid  to  rest  in  1834  when  90  years  old  ;  James  Gray  died  in  1802, 
Amos  Gray  in  1823  and  another  John  Gray  in  1852.  Stone  posts 
with  connecting  chains  enclose  the  graves  of  the  Grays. 

The  Rankins  were  once  numerous  in  town,  there  are  none  now. 
John  Rankin  was  buried  in  1786,  John  Rankin,  Esq.,  in  1829,  Lieut. 
Rankin  in  1830,  another  John  Rankin  in  i860.  Another  common 
name  was  Harkness,  but  it  is  heard  no  more  in  town  save  as  the 
lettered  stones  speak.  Lieut.  Harkness  was  buried  in  1779,  aged 
57.  David  Harkness  died  Mar.  19,  1S16,  when  59  years  of  age. 
Capt.  Thomas  Dick,  one  of  the  original  settlers  and  an  officer  in  the 
army  or  militia,  was  buried  here  in  1774,  aged  70.  Robert  McCul- 
loch's  head-stone  tells  of  his  death  in  iSoo  at  So. 

Four  solid  stone  posts  and  an  iron  fence  rusty  with  age  enclosing 
a  lot  just  large  enough  for  one  grave,  also  encloses  a  stone  which 
informs  the  visitors  that  Nancy  Park,  26,  wife  of  Stuart  Park,  with 
infant  child,  were  buried  in  the  same  grave  in  1803.  There  are 
graves  of  Macombers,  Westcotts,  Robinsons,  Eatons,  Kingmans  and 
other  well  known  names.  Adam  Johnson,  a  liberal  doner  to  Amherst 
College  was  buried  here  in  1823,  and  a  white  marble  slab  bears  the 
following  inscription  :  '.'  Erected  by  the  trustees  of  Amherst  College 
in  testimony  of  their  gratitude  for  the  Johnson  Chapel."  Not  a  very 
generous  or  adequate  testimonial  of  gratitude  on  the  part  of  the 
trustees  for  benetits  received,  nor  what  was  promised  to  Johnson,  if 
current  history  of  the  matter  is  true. 

THE    QUAKER    BURYING    GROUND. 

At  one  time  during  the  early  part  of  this  century  there  was  a  small 
body  of  Quakers  or  Friends  in  town,  led  by  Uncle  Eseck  Cook,  whose 
kindly  thee  and  thou  the  writer  remembers,  and  their  •'  meeting 
house"  was  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  West  Pelham  Methodist 
church.  Here  the  little  band  used  to  gather  on  Sunday  and  await  in 
silence  for  the  spirit  to  move.  Out  on  the  plain  west  of  the  meeting 
house,  which  is  now  used  as  a  barn,  the   "  Friends  "  w-ere  buried  as 


476 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


one  after  another  they  finished  their  earthly  course.  The  space  set 
apart  was  not  large  nor  was  it  ever  enclosed  by  fence  or  wall.  Thirty 
or  forty  perhaps  were  buried  here  but  no  marble  headstones  inform 
the  visitor  who  they  were  or  when  they  shuffled  the  mortal  coil. 
Some  of  the  graves  show  like  low  swelling  mounds  of  grassy  turf  with 
ordinary  stones  gathered  from  the  field  at  the  head  and  feet.  Many 
tenants  have  occupied  the  small  farm  but  the  plow  has  never  invaded 
the  little  burial  place  upon  the  plain.  No  name-inscribed  stones  are 
seen,  no  dates,  nothing  to  indicate  who  the  dead  are  who  he  here, 
and  possibly  no  person  living  can  identify  a  single  grave  or  tell 
whose  remains  lie  beneath  one  of  the  slightly  raised  mounds  covered 
with  green  sward  of  June.  Once  'tis  said  an  inscribed  stone  was  set 
up  on  this  spot  to  mark  the  grave  of  Dr.  Gulley  Potter,  a  young  med- 
cal  student,  who  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Olney  Potter,  whose  parents  were 
Quakers.  This  act  of  sacrilege  was  not  looked  upon  with  favor  by 
the  Quaker  brethren  and  it  is  said  the  stone  was  twice  removed  after 
beino-  erected,  as  a  gentle  hint  that  it  was  not  wanted.  As  the  stone 
was  contributed  by  fellow  students  at  the  medical  school,  and  Dr. 
Olney  Potter  wished  to  have  it  stand  above  his  son's  grave,  he  was 
obliged  to  disinter  the  remains  and  bury  them  elsewhere. 

THE    ARNOLD    BURYING    GROUND. 

Thirtv  or  forty  rods  north  of  the  little  Quaker  burial  place,  on  a 
sandy  hill  slope  is  the  burial  place  opened  by  the  father  of  S.  F. 
Arnold.  The  pines  are  thick  on  the  north  and  west  sides,  and  a  wall 
of  stone  incloses  the  whole.  Here  rests  the  families  of  Arnolds, 
Stephen  and  Leonard  Ballou,  Pliny  Hannum,  the  Cundals,  Lovetts, 
Braileys,  Croziers,  Jillsons,  etc.  Here  we  find  the  grave  of  Dr. 
Gulley  Potter,  referred  to  above,  and  find  that  he  died  June  20,  1821, 
aged  26.  Beneath  the  inscription  is  the  following  terse  declaration 
of  fact,  "  Life,  how  short,  Eternity,  how  long  !"  The  most  costly 
stone  here  is  that  erected  in  memory  of  Col.  Chas.  C.  C.  Mower,  who 
died  of  cholera  in  New  York  in  1849. 

THE    JOHNSON    FAMILY    BURIAL    PLACE, 

High  up  on  the  west  slope  of  Mt.  Lincoln  and  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  summit  George  Johnson,  a  protestant  Irishman  from  Dundalk, 
Ireland,  settled  in  the  year  1837.  Here  he  lived  and  brought  up  his 
family  of  girls.     One  married  John  Gardner  and  a  child  by  this  mar- 


TOMB    IX   THE    SMITH    PRIVATE   CEMETEK^ 


AKI-.A    U.Wli.UA.   FARM    HOUSE. 


OLD    BURIAL    PLACES.  477 

riage  sickened  and  died  of  what  was  thought  to  be  small-pox.  Con- 
sequently burial  was  refused  in  the  public  burial  places  and  Mr. 
Johnson  buried  his  grandchild  upon  a  plot  of  land  near  his  home.  A 
few  square  rods  of  land  is  walled  in  and  fifteen  or  twenty  burials  of 
his  family  and  relatives  have  been  made  within  the  little  enclosure. 
George  Johnson  the  ancestor  of  the  family  was  buried  in  1853  and 
among  the  graves  are  those  of  two  soldier  sons-in-law,  Lieut.  George 
Johnson  of  the  25th  Mass.  and  Patrick  Bailey  of  the  27th  Mass.  and 
each  Memorial  Day  flags  are  planted  above  them  which  float  in  the 
wind  until  worn  out  by  the  blasts  that  career  about  Mt.  Lincoln. 

THE    SMIi'H    PRIVATE     BURIAL    GROUND. 

In  1843  or  thereabouts  James  Smith,  Daniel  Holbrook  and  Arba 
Randall  set  apart  a  small  tract  of  land  upon  the  farm  of  the  last 
named  and  it  has  been  used  since  for  the  burial  of  the  members  of 
these  families  and  their  friends  and  neighbors  until  there  are  quite 
a  cluster  of  graves.  The  yard  is  pleasantly  situated  a  little  to  the 
right  of  the  county  road  leading  to  Enfield  and  a  mile  and  a  half 
from  the  Methodist  church.  More  has  been  expended  here  in  beau- 
tifying the  spot  and  in  erecting  costly  monuments  than  in  any  private 
burial  place  in  town.  A  heavy  bank  wall  surmounted  by  an  iron 
rail  surrounds  the  grounds  and  a  weeping  willow  waves  near  the 
tomb  at  the  northeast  corner.  James  Smith  and  his  wife,  Betsey 
Otis  Smith,  together  with  their  daughters  and  daughter's  husbands 
or  some  of  them  are  buried  here.  There  are  Randalls  and  Browns 
and  Chapmans  and  Lymans  and  Smiths,  all  more  or  less  related  to 
the  original  founders  of  the  grounds.  Robert  Brown  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  is  buried  here  ;  he  died  in  1849  at  the  age  of  84, 
and  his  son,  Martin  V.  B.  Brown,  who  recently  died  in  Hadley,  was 
the  youngest  son  of  a  revolutionary  soldier  in  this  state  if  not  in  the 
whole  country,  he  being  but  55  years  of  age.  James  Smith  and  Bet- 
sey Otis  Smith  his  wife,  the  father  and  mother  of  Sidney  Dillon's  wife, 
the  great  railroad  builder  and  millionaire,  president  of  the  Union  Paci- 
fic railroad,  recently  deceased  at  New  York,  are  resting  here  near  their 
old  home  farm  on  the  hilltop  beyond. 

BURIAL    GROUND     NEAR    GEORGE    KNIGHX'S. 

A  mile  or  more  along  the  same  county  road  towards   Packardville 
is  another  burial  ground  close   by  the  roadside   and  not  far  from  the 
reservoir  at  the  head  of  Springfield's  water  supply.      It  is  well  cared 
32 


478  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

for  except  now  and  then  a  plot  that  shows  the  lack  of  loving  friends. 
Three  tall  spruce  trees  stand  near  together  within  the  enclosure, 
otherwise  there  are  few  trees  or  other  attractive  features.  Here  we 
find  the  names  of  Browns,  Wards,  Pratts  and  Westons  and  in  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  grounds  we  found  the  grave  of  Rev.  William 
K.  Vaille,  for  some  years  pastor  of  the  Union  church  at  Packard- 
ville  and  the  Congregational  church  at  Pelham  center.  The  most 
unique  inscription  of  all  is  found  upon  a  white  marble  slab  not  far 
from  the  road  side  fence,  which  reads  as  follows  : 

Warren  (Jibbs, 
Died  lay  arsenic  poison 
March  23,  i860  Aged  36  years 
5  months  and  23  days. 
Think  my  friends  wlien  this  you  see 
How  my  wife  hath  dealt  by  me 
She  in  some  oysters  did  prepare 
Some  poison  for  my  lot  and  share 
Then  of  the  same   I  did  partake 
And  nature  yielded  to  its  fate 
Before  she  my  wife  became 
Mary  Felton  was  her  name. 

Erected  by  his  brother 
Wm  Gibbs. 

No  punctuation  marks  seem  to  have  been  used  in  the  above  charge 
of  crime  where  it  was  possible  to  get  along  without,  and  the  marble 
worker  doubtless  followed  copy. 

PACKARDVILLE    BURYING    GROUND. 

Close  by  the  Union  church,  where  the  ground  begins  to  slope  to 
the  north  is  a  small  number  of  graves,  ten  or  a  dozen  in  all :  quite  a 
number  of  the  stones  bearing  the  name  of  Hanks,  and  there  is  a 
monument  to  the  memory  of  the  wife  of  Levi  W.  Gold.  That  so  few 
are  buried  here,  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  a  larger  and  older 
burial  ground  is  not  far  away  just  over  the  town  line  in  Enheld  which 
has  been  used,  and  is  still  by  both  towns. 

THE    VALLEY    CEMETERY 

is  very  pleasantly  located  in  what  is  known  as  the  Valley  district  of 
West  Pelham,  it  is  on  a  sandy  hillock  above  the  highway  and  is  one 
of  the  later  and  better  cared  for  of  all  the  burial  places  visited.  It 
was  opened  for  burials  in  1848  and  the  first  person  buried  here  was 
a  Mrs.  Wylie,  a  sister  of  Asahel  Gates,  whose  farm  is  not  far  away. 
Among  the  well  cared  for  lots  are  those  of  John  ]i.  \\'ard,  a  citizen 
of  Amherst,  Joseph  G.  Ward,  Asahel  Gates,  Levi  B.  Hall,  and  Riifus 


OLD    BURIAL    PLACES.  479 

Grout.  Thomas  Buffum  and  many  of  his  family  are  lying  here. 
Horace  Gray,  a  former  resident  of  the  town,  now  of  Northampton, 
and  a  descendant  of  the  Grays  that  lie  in  the  West  burying  ground, 
above  described,  has  a  fine  monument  erected  here.  Here  we  read 
the  names  and  ages  of  three  wives  of  a  well  known  man  now  living, 
who  died  at  20,  22  and  26  years  of  age.  A  monument  bears  the 
date  of  birth  and  death  of  four  wives  of  a  man  now  living  happily 
with  his  fifth  wife:  the  dates  of  their  deaths  are  as  follows,  1855, 
187  I,  1SS2  and  18S9.  The  space  set  apart  is  nearly  all  plotted  and 
the  lots  taken,  but  more  equally  high  and  dry  land  surrounds  it,  and 
is  available  when  needed. 

THE    WEST    PELHAM    BURYING    GROUND 

is  located  on  the  county  road  not  far  from  the  Orient  grounds,  so 
called,  and  was  laid  out  about  the  year  1830,  William  Harkness 
being  the  first  person  interred  in  it.  Here  lie  ten  or  twelve  of  the 
same  name,  once  so  common.  The  father,  mother,  brothers  and 
sisters  of  Dr.  H.  W.  Harkness  of  San  Francisco  are  among  them. 
There  are  other  well  known  names  of  men  prominent  in  towai  affairs 
fifty  years  ago,  among  the  fifty  to  seventy-five  persons  who  are  buried 
in  this  quiet  resting  place. 

In  these  burial  places  of  the  town  there  are  resting  many  more 
people  than  are  living  in  the  town  now,  and  many  more  than  were 
ever  living  in  it  at  any  period  sin'ce  the  town  was  settled.  Other 
causes  besides  death  have  been  instrumental  in  removing  people 
from  the  old  town  until  by  the  last  census  there  are  but  486  inhab- 
itants, where  more  than  double  that  number  dwelt  in  more  prosper- 
ous days. '  The  young  and  active  have  been  going  out  from  the  old 
farm  houses  where  they  were  born  to  seek  success  in  the  far  away 
cities  or  at  business  centers  not  so  remote,  until  the  abandoned  farms 
and  the  cellars  of  deserted  homes  are  quite  common.  Of  the  living 
who  went  forth  to  battle  with  the  world  for  success,  there  is  a  note- 
worthy record.  Of  those  who  lived  here  until  their  life  work  was 
finished  and  whose  remains  were  deposited  in  one  or  another  of 
these  hillside  burial  places  we  may  truthfully  say: 

"  In  these  villages  on  the  hill, 

Never  is  sound  of  smithy  or  mill : 

The  houses  are  thatched  with  grass  and  flowers 

Never  a  clock  to  toll  the  hours  ; 

The  marble  doors  are  always  shut. 

You  cannot  enter  hall  or  hut ; 


480  HISIORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

All  the  villagers  lie  asleep: 
Never  again  to  sow  or  reap  : 
Never  in  dreams  to  moan  or  sigh, 
But  silent  and  idle  and  cold  they  lie." 

THE    CEMETERY    ON    THE    PRESCOTT     SIDE    OF    EAST    HOLLOW. 

Having  described  ten  separate  burial  places  in  the  present  town  of 
Pelham  it  is  necessary  to  include  at  least  one  that  was  in  Pelham 
before  Prescott  was  set  off  as  a  town  and  where  many  of  the  people 
whose  names  appear  cjuite  often  among  the  active  men  of  the  town 
on  the  records  of  town  and  church,  are  now  resting  after  life's  fitful 
fever.  This  cemetery  was  probably  opened  as  a  burial  place  some- 
time previous  to  17S0  and  is  situated  on  a  sandy  bluff  perhaps  150 
feet  above  and  overlooking  the  west  branch  of  Swift  river,  whose 
waters  are  spread  over  the  low  ground  by  the  dam  near  the  bridge 
until  it  has  the  appearance  of  a  small  lake  or  inland  pond,  making  a 
pretty  view  looking  westward  from  the  northwestern  portion  of  the 
enclosure.  To  the  east,  the  great  ridge  on  which  Prescott  center  is 
located,  looms  up,  seemingly  covered  by  a  thick  forest  growth. 
Toward  the  northeast  and  less  than  half  a  mile  away  is  the  site  of 
the  old  Conkey  tavern.  Near  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  ceme- 
tery, William  Conkey,  the  first  landlord  of  the  tavern  lies  at  rest. 
He  died  Nov.  5,  17 88,  aged  70.  and  his  wife,  Rebeckah  Hamilton, 
is  not  faraway;  she  died  in  iSii.  aged  84.  William  Conkey,  the 
second  landlord  of  the  tavern,  died  Jan.  8,  1841.  in  his  90th  year. 
The  moral  lesson  engraved  upon  his  stone  is  as  follows: 

"  'Tis  but  a  few  whose  days  amount 
To  three  score  years  and  ten  : 

And  all  beyond  tliat  short  account. 
Is  sorrow  toil  and  pain."' 

The  second  William  was  known  to  everybody  during  life  as 
"  Uncle  Billy."  Mrs.  Mary  Maklem  Conkey,  wife  of  the  second 
William,  died  Sept.  13,  18 19,  in  her  66th  year.  Mr.  John  Conkey 
died  in  1784  at  76.  John  Conkey.  Esq.,  died  April  15,  1S24.  aged 
77.  His  wife,  Margaret  Abercrombie,  died  P'eb.  i,  1800,  aged  53. 
David  Conkey  died  in  1828,  aged  80,  and  his  wife,  Patty,  in  1840, 
aged  74.  Another  David  Conkey  died  in  1861.  aged  85.  The  wife 
of  the  latter  died  in  18 19,  aged  73.  There  are  many  other  Conkeys. 
both  old  and  young,  resting  here,  and  among  them  Ansel  and 
Robert,  sons  of  Uncle  Billy. 

James  Peebles  finished  his  w.irk  Mar.  6,  17S7  at  48.  Another 
stone  informs  us  by  its   sculptured   story  that   "  Mrs.    Rachel   H3'de 


OLD    BURIAL    PLACES.  481 

successive!}'  the  wife  of  James  Peebles  and  Dea.  Samuel  Hyde  died 
June  25,  1795."  Capt.  Isaac  Gray,  the  revolutionary  soldier,  died  in 
September,  1786,  in  his  57th  year.  Dea.  Daniel  Gray,  a  leading 
agitator  durmg  the  Shays'  rebellion,  died  in  December,  1803,  at  77. 
James  Abercrombie  died  in  1S36  at  82  years  of  age.  Margery,  his 
wife,  died  in  1832,  aged  75.  James  Abercrombie,  Jr.,  died  in  1859, 
aged  69.  David  Abercrombie  died  in  1851,  aged  55.  The  McMul- 
lens — Millens — Mellens,  are  here  ;  twenty  or  more  graves  with  this 
well  known  surname,  but  spelled  in  different  ways  according  to 
usage  at  the  time  they  lived.  Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds,  the  active  physi- 
cian and  man  of  affairs,  lies  here;  he  died  July  11,  1825,  aged  79. 
On  the  stone  at  the  head  of  his  grave  is  the  following  inscription  : 
"  This  friend  lamented  is  not  dead, 

But  gone  the  path  we  all  must  tread  : 
He,  only  to  that  distant  shore 

Where  all  must  go,  has  gone  before," 

Anna,  relict  of  Dr.  Hinds,  died  in  1835,  aged  Si.  Nehemiah 
Hinds,  Jr.,  Lazetta,  a  daughter,  and  John  Hinds,  the  latter  dying  at 
47  in  1826,  are  also  lying  here.  Barna  Brigham,  Esq.,  son-in-law  of 
Dr.  Hinds,  is  also  near  by.     He  died  in  1834,  aged  49  years. 

The  plot  containing  the  remains  of  the  Chapins  is  surrounded  by 
an  iron  fence  of  elaborate  pattern.  Within  this  enclosure  lie  the 
descendants  of  Luthur  Chapin,  a  prominent  citizen  in  his  time.  His 
son  Alanson  had  several  wives  and  on  the  stone  marking  the  grave 
of  Almira  Harrington,  first  wife  of  Alanson,  is  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : 

Died  Jan.  16,  1824,  aged  24  years. 
"  Afifliction  sore  long  time  I  bore. 

Physicians  were  in  vain; 
Till  God  was  pleased  to  give  me  ease. 
And  free  me  from  my  pain." 

There  are  also  Cowans,  and  Smiths  and  Berrys  beside  other  well 
known  families,  who  lived  and  labored  actively  in  the  years  that  are 
gone,  for  the  best  interests  of  the  church  and  the  town,  who  having 
finished  their  labors  have  been  brought  here  for  their  long  rest. 
This  cemetery  is  in  use  now  by  people  in  Pelham  as  well  as  Prescott. 
It  has  been  well  cared  for  generally  and  has  an  iron  fence  along  the 
roadside  front.  The  oldest  stones  are  moss  grown  and  worn  by 
storms,  and  the  finger  of  time  has  nearly  obliterated  many  names 
and  dates. 


Taverns  and  Landlords. 


THE    TAVERN    OF    THOMAS    DICK. 

Thomas  Dick  was  the  first  taverner  and  landlord,  and  he  opened 
by  license  in  1749.  He  continued  in  the  business  until  1770  or 
thereabouts.  I^'urlher  notice  of  Landlord  Dick  and  his  tavern  will  be 
found  on  page  249. 

[HE    OLD    CONKEY    TAVERN. 

No  man  driving  along  the  dusty  highway  leading  past  the  site  of 
the  old  Conkey  tavern  in  the  lonely  valley  of  the  west  branch  of 
Swift  river,  would  ever  suspect  that  in  the  old  tavern,  sitting  beside 
the  wide  open  fire-places,  the  hardy  yeomanry  of  this  section  gathered 
to  mutter  of  grievances,  and  later  to  sally  forth  in  armed  rebellion 
against  the  constituted  authorities,  and  government  of  Massachusetts. 
But  so  it  was. 

It  was  the  ideal  spot  to  gather  together  the  discontented  and  debt 
burdened  country  people  from  far  and  near,  to  rehearse  their  griev- 
ances with  each  other,  and  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  relief. 
There  were  no  telegraph  lines,  no  telephones ;  no  reporters  lurking 
about  to  hear  what  was  said,  and  learn  of  their  plans,  for  there  were 
no  morning  papers  that  could  be  reached  in  which  to  publish  excit- 
ing accounts  of  rebellious  gatherings  in  the  old  Conkey  tavern,  and 
probably  no  mail  that  came  oftener  than  once  a  fortnight.  However 
loudly  they  threatened  there  was  no  danger  of  their  doings  being 
spread  before  the  public  the  next  morning.  They  were  as  safe  and 
secure  from  interruption  as  it  was  possible  to  be  anywhere  within  the 
state.  The  East  hill  was  high  and  steep,  and  across  the  west  branch  of 
Swift  river  rose  the  companion  ridge  known  as  Pelham  West  hill. 
Look  in  whatever  direction  one  chooses  as  he  stands  on  the  site  of 
this  old  tavern  to-day,  not  a  building  or  habitation  can  be  seen,  and 
so  it  must  have  been  in  1786-7  when  these  excited  and  determined 
men  plotted  rebellion,  and  from  the  old  tavern  sallied  forth  under 
arms  to  encounter  disaster  and  defeat. 

The  tavern  was  built  by  William  Conkey  in  1758.  The  upright 
part  was  two  stories  in  height  but  low  studded  and  contained  but 
two  rooms  on  the  ground    floor,    and    the    same    number    above    on 


coxKEV  TAVERN   SKIN.  (Front  and  iSack.) 


TH1-:    OLD    CONKKV    TAVKKN. 


TAVERNS    AND    LANDLORDS.  483 

the  second  story.  The  rooms  were  all  roughly  sheathed,  no  plaster- 
ing anywhere.  The  tavern  faced  the  south  and  the  east  room  was 
the  dining  room  and  the  west  room  was  the  all  important  bar-room  ; 
between  the  two  rose  the  great  stone  chimney,  ten  feet  or  more 
square  at  the  base.  There  were  large  open  fire-places  in  the  dining 
and  bar  rooms.  Across  the  north  side  of  the  upright  part  a  leanto 
was  built  for  the  long  ample  kitchen  with  a  pantry  at  each  end.  In 
the  middle  of  the  south  side  of  the  kitchen  was  the  great  fire-place 
where  the  long  back  log  was  rolled  to  its  position  to  receive  the 
assaults  of  blazing  brands  thrust  underneath,  and  piled  upon  the 
forestick  and  backlog.  At  the  right  of  the  great  fire-place  was  a 
door  that  led  from  the  kitchen  to  the  bar-room,  where  the  bar  with 
its  array  of  bottles  and  decanters  was  set  up  across  the  southwest 
corner.  On  the  left  of  the  great  kitchen  fire-place  was  the  door 
leading  to  the  dining  room.  On  the  wide  stone  lintel  over  the  great 
fire-place  in  the  kitchen  was  this  inscription  "  William  Conkey,  June 
ye  2  I  A.  D.  1776."  Another  stone  lintel  inscribed  "  WilliamConkey," 
but  having  no  date,  was  over  the  fire-place  in  th6  bar-room. 

The  date  was  cut  in  the  stone  to  mark  the  year  that  changes  and 
improvements  were  made  at  the  tavern.  Silas  S.  Shores  of  Pelham  has 
these  lintels  in  use  as  thresholds  in  the  basement  of  his  house.  The 
front  door  opened  into  a  narrow  hall  from  which  a  narrow  stairway 
wound  up  to  the  two  chambers  already  mentioned  ;  turning  to  the 
left  on  entering  the  front  door  led  to  the  bar-room,  and  a  turn  to  the 
right  into  the  dining-room. 

On  the  southeast  corner  of  the  main  building  swung  the  tavern 
sign,  consisting  of  a  board  perhaps  two  feet  in  length  by  one  and 
one-half  feet  in  width ;  on  one  side  was  painted  a  mounted  horseman 
and  on  the  reverse  side  was  a  horse  held  by  a  groom.  This  sign  is 
in  possession  of  Milo  Abbott  of  Prescott,  who  also  has  the  old  clock 
that  ticked  off  the  time  at  the  tavern.  The  furniture  of  the  tavern 
was  of  the  plainest  kind,  made  for  use  rather  than  for  show. 

In  the  open  space  in  front  of  the  tavern  Captain  Shays  drilled  the 
man,  who  gathered  at  the  headquarters,  in  the  manual  of  arms.  The 
wide  casing  on  the  big  beam  in  the  ceiling  of  the  bar-room  showed 
many  a  circular  indentation  answering  in  form  to  the  muzzles  of  the 
muskets  which  the  thirsty  insurgents  carried,  and  which  they  thrust 
against  the  smooth  board  overhead  while  impatiently  waiting  for 
their  turn  in  front  of  the  bar. 


404  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

The  cellar  of  the  tavern  was  important  because  it  was  there  that 
Landlord  Conkey  stored  his  large  stock  of  liquors,  as  well  as  a  good 
supply  of  cider.  It  was  of  good  depth  and  the  walls  instead  of  being 
built  perpendicular,  inclined  outward  from  the  bottom.  It  was  in 
this  cool  receptacle  that  the  barrels  of  West  India  rum  and  casks  of 
wine  and  brandy,  orange  and  clove,  were  stored,  and  drawn  from  to 
replenish  the  bar.  The  cellar  also  furnished  storage  for  a  goodly 
supply  of  salt  pork  and  beef  as  well  as  an  ample  supply  of  potatoes 
and  garden  vegetables.  East  of  the  house  was  the  well  with  the 
long  well-sweep  from  which  was  hung  the  pole  and  bucket  for  draw- 
ing the  cool  water.  West  of  the  house  were  located  the  barns  and 
other  out  buildings  usually  needed  upon  a  farm,  and  further  west 
towards  the  West  Branch  were  the  acres  of  mowing  and  cultivated 
land  belonging  to  Landlord  Conkey's  farm  from  which  he  filled  his 
barns. 

Landlord  Conkey  kept  a  good  supply  of  assorted  liquors  in  his 
cellar  sufficient  to  drown  the  griefs  of  discouraged  farmers  and  no 
doubt  the  men  organizing  the  rebellion  improved  the  opportunity 
when  argument  and  discussion  became  dull  and  unsatisfying.  We 
offer  a  copy  of  one  bill  of  liquors  that  Landlord  Conkey  put  in  his 
cellar  as  early  as  1772  to  show  his  liberality  in  providing  for  the  thirst 
of  his  patrons : 

Boston,  Oct.  31,  1772. 
Mr.  William  Conkey  bought  of  Johannet  &  Seaver. 

2  Bbls  rum  63  gallons  at  12  shillings  ^37 — 16 — o 
32  Galls  West  India  Rum  at  22  shillings  6d  36 — 00 — o 
4  "  Brandy  30  shillings, — Keg  13  shillings  6  10 — 13—6 
4  "  Annas  seed  17  "  "  13  "  6  4 —  3 — 6 
6        "     Clove — at  17—6 — Keg  15                "  6 —  o — o 

3  3-4  "  Orange  17—6  "  13  6  3—19—2 
I                 Wine  30 — ■  I — 10 

^100 —  2 — 2 

Boston,  Oct.  31,  1772. 
£6 — o — o       Received   of   Wm    Conkey   six   pounds   in  lawful  money  on 
account.  '  Johannet  &  Seaver. 

Boston,  Feb.  ii,  1773. 
Received  tlie  within  to  balance  in  full.  Johannet  &  Seaver. 

Another  bill  of  liquors  that  went  into  the  cellar  of  the  old  tavern 
two  years  later  is  added  proof  of  Landlord  Conkey's  liberality  in 
providing  for  the  comfort  of  his  guests  many  years  before  men 
gathered  at  his  hostelry  to  plot  armed  opposition  to  the  state  govern- 
ment, and  before  the  Revolutionary  war  began. 


/ijiA  (.(u)k  .^  1  A\  i-:k.\. 


WATERFALL  ON  THE  DUNLAP  BROOK. 


Mr.  William  Coxkey 

AXU 

1  SON 

WlLLl.A 

4  Hb''*  Rum     32 

?.^ 

29-i 

III 

Gall 

'  a  13* 

I  Bb"  West  India 

a  22—6 

i5i  Gall'  Brandv 

a    3-6 

135  Galls  Molasses 

a    2-6 

SI  GalP  Wine 

a  30 

8  (.alls  Orange  i  ,oj.  rails 
loj  Gall»  Clove  i  '^«  ^^^' 

a  15 

I  Bb'l  27—6     h  Bbl  22- 

-6 

I  Bb'l  Sugar 

2- 

-3-8 

AVEkiVS    AND    LANDLORDS.  4S5 

Boston,  ii  Fei;"v.  1774. 

\.M   IjOt  of  lOHAXXET  v-K:  Si: A\"EK. 


81—  5—  o- 
34—  6—  3- 
29—  I-  3- 

8-  5-  5- 
13—  6—  3- 


a /is  39—15- 

^2—2—17 


^222-   1-7- 

William  Conkey,  the  original  builder  and  landlord  of  the  tavern 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  William,  who  continued  business  at  the 
old  stand  after  his  father  died.  Both  father  and  son  were  promi- 
nent in  town  affairs  for  many  years.  The  latter  was  known  to  every- 
body during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  as  "  Uncle  Billy  "  Conkey,  and 
he  lived  until  1841,  and  died  in  his  90th  year.  East  and  West  Hills 
remain  substantially  as  they  were  in  1786-87  and  the  great  hollow  lies 
between.  The  snow  covers  all  in  winter  as  it  did  at  the  time  of  the 
insurrection,  though  not  as  deeply  as  then,  but  is  white  and  cold  just  the 
same.  The  men,  armed  and  excited,  who  were  marching  over  the 
hills  and  through  the  Hollow  and  gathered  at  the  old  tavern, — have 
all  gone  ;  all  marched  over  into  the  silences  eternal.  The  old  tavern 
has  disappeared,  but  we  can,  in  a  measure,  bring  back  to  mind  the 
exciting  scenes  enacted  within  and  about  the  old  hostelry  long  years 
ago.  The  people  who  now  live  upon  these  two  hills  and  in  the 
great  Hollow  are  at  peace  ;  and  if  not  rich,  are  not  so  burdened  and 
distressed  by  debt  as  those  who  gathered  about  the  old  tavern  more 
than  a  century  ago. 

DR.    hinds'    tavern. 

Dr.  Nehemiah  Hinds  was  a  noted  landlord  as  well  as  physician 
and  business  man.  His  tavern  was  on  the  East  hill  and  was  first 
licensed  in  1783.     He  continued  as  taverner  until  1802. 

Landlords  Benoni  Shurtlieff,  Christopher  Patten,  John  Bruce, 
Harris  Hatch,  and  John  Cole  appear  quite  often  on  the  town 
records,  as  town  meetings  were  adjourned  to  the  tavern  of  these  land- 
lords, and  about  in  the  order  named.  It  should  not  be  understood 
that  these  taverns  were  all  in  existence  at  the  same  time,  but  it  may 


486  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

have  been  the  same  tavern  stand  with  successive  landlords.  The 
tavern  must  have  been  near  the  old  meeting  house  in  order  that  an 
adjournment  of  fifteen  minutes  to  the  tavern  could  be  riiade  and 
business  resumed  in  so  short  a  time,  and  the  tavern  must  have  been 
on  the  \\'est  Hill. 

KINCiMAN'S  TAVERN. 

Martin  Kingman  was  in  the  field  as  a  popular  landlord  on  the 
West  Hill  as  early  as  1S20.  The  location  of  his  tavern  was  on  the 
site  of  the  residence  of  Town  Clerk  J.  W.  Keith,  perhaps  the  same 
bvulding.  I-vingman  was  in  the  business  until  183S  almost  continu- 
ously. Calvin  D.  Eaton  was  the  next  landlord  of  this  hostelry  begin- 
ning in  1842,  and  the  last  license  as  iimkeeper  issued  to  him  was  for 
the  year  1848.  Mr.  Eaton  was  a  popular  landlord  and  the  tavern 
was  a  noted  place  for  gatherings  of  young  people  who  danced  the  time 
away  until  the  small  hours  to  the  music  of  "Old  "  Fenton's  fiddle. 
cook's  taverx. 

Ziba  Cook's  tavern  was  about  half  a  mile  south  of  the  Methodist 
church  on  the  road  to  Enfield.  It  was  opened  as  a  tavern  in  1829, 
and  the  last  license  was  issued  in  1835.  It  was  a  popular  resort 
during  the  few  years  it  was  open  to  the  public.  At  that  lime  the 
large  carriage  factory  of  Knowles  &  Thayer  at  East  Amherst  was  in 
full  blast,  employing  perhaps  125  young  men,  and  delegations  of 
these  workmen  were  often  guests  at  Cook's  tavern  until  late  at  night, 
and  went  home  towards  daybreak  in  a  jolly  mood  which  attested  the 
good  cheer  dispensed  at  the  tavern  on  the  hillside. 
Randall's  tavern. 

In  1837  another  tavern  was  opened  on  the  county  road  beyond 
Cook's  tavern  on  the  way  to  Enfield,  and  on  the  highest  point  of  land 
before  descending  towards  Enfield.  Benjamin  Randall  was  landlord 
and  the  daily  line  of  stages  from  Northampton  to  Worcester  or  West 
Brookfield  halted  there  morning  and  evening.  The  old  tavern 
remains  much  the  same  as  it  appeared  50  years  ago  when  the  county 
road  was  used  for  passenger  travel  and  for  mails. 

THE    orient    house. 

William  Newell,  shoemaker,  a  native  of  the  town,  who  had  become 
quite  a  mineralogist  by  making  it  a  study  in  odd  hours  when  business 
was  dull,  and  who  owned  the  tract  afterwards  known  as  the  Orient 
Springs  property,  thought  he  detected  mineral  qualities  in  the  water 
of  springs  that  gushed  forth  in  a  ravine  near  Amethyst  brook,  and 


THE    ORIEXT    HOUSE. 


HOTEL     PELHAM. 


TAVERNS    AND    LANDLORDS.  487 

analysis  showed  the  presence  of  iron,  sulphur  and  other  mineral 
substances  in  solution.  This  was  in  1853  and  the  water  became 
quite  celebrated  locally,  and  many  visitors  came  to  drink  the  water, 
and  some  invalids  came  and  boarded  in  the  neighborhood  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  benefit  of  continued  use  of  the  waters  of  the 
springs.  The  increasing  popularity  of  the  waters  led  Mr.  Newell  to 
build  a  small  house  in  the  ravine  on  the  north  side  of  the  brook  for 
the  better  accommodation  of  transient  visitors.  A  bowling  alley  and 
other  attractions  were  added  and  in  1858  two  brothers  named  Ballou 
from  Rhode  Island,  purchased  an  interest  and  erected  a  three  story 
building,  using  the  smaller  building  already  spoken  of  for  an  ell  or 
wing  to  the  larger  structure.  This  was  in  1858,  but  before  the  build- 
ing was  furnished  it  was  destroyed  by  incendiary  fire.  The  popularity 
of  the  waters  continuing  to  increase,  notwithstanding  the  misfortune 
attending  the  efforts  to  accommodate  people  who  wished  better  accom- 
modations, and  in  the  spring  of  1861,  Dr.  Sornborger  of  Northampton 
purchased  twenty-five  acres  or  more  of  land  and  commenced  the 
erection  of  a  summer  hotel,  100  feet  long  and  three  stories  high' 
The  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  that  spring  had  a  depressing 
effect  upon  such  new  undertakings,  but  it  was  rushed  to  completion 
and  opened  for  business  that  season. 

This  building  did  not  occupy  the  site  of  those  burned,  but  was  on 
an  elevated  plateau  near  the  county  highway,  having  a  magnificent 
outlook  toward  the  west  and  southwest,  the  foundation  of  the  build- 
ing being  higher  than  the  tower  on  Johnson  Hall,  one  of  the  more 
prominent  of  the  Amherst  College  buildings  at  Amherst.  Dr.  Sorn- 
borger was  not  successful  as  a  manager  of  the  property  and  it  passed 
into  other  hands.  One  proprietor  succeeded  another  with  varying 
success,  but  with  no  satisfactory  financial  results.  The  last  proprie- 
tor was  Dr.  Herman  Heed,  a  well  educated  physician,  and  pleasant 
gentleman  who  was  in  possession  when  the  building  accidentally 
took  fire  and  was  burned  to  the  ground  Feb.  23,  1881. 

HOTEL     PELHA^L 

In  1889  Theodore  F.  Cook  began  to  remodel  and  enlarge  the 
Lyman  Jenks'  house  at  Pelham  center  to  fit  it  for  a  hotel,  and  in 
1890,  having  completed  the  improvements,  the  house  was  opened  to 
the  public  under  the  above  name.  The  house  is  roomy  and  well 
kept  and  every  season  there  are  some  who  come  up  to  the  ancient 
hilltop  to  enjoy  the  pure  air  and  sunshine,  and  to  rest  from  the  cares 
of  business,  as  guests  at  Landlord  Cook's,  Hotel  Pelham. 


Old  Advertisments,  Etc. 

STRAY    CATTLE,    ETC. 

Early  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town  the  custom  of  recording 
the  description  of  stray  animals  that  had  been  ''  taken  in  damage  " 
and  otherwise  began,  and  we  find  in  the  back  part  of  the  first  book 
of  records  a  long  list  of  descriptions  of  stray  animals  from  which 
some  interesting  selections  are  herewith  submitted.  The  earliest 
entry  is  as  follows  : 

"  Oct  ye  i6  1747  Entered  by  Abraham  Gibs  of  Quabin — A  yearling  Hefer 
white  With  Black  Legs  a  black  head  &  Neck — &  a  yearling  Hefer  Colord 
black  with  brown  Ears  &  a  Brown  List  on  y'-  Back  &  some  White  on  y'' 
Belley — &  a  yearling  Hefer  Colored  Ride  With  a  Short  tail  with  some 
White  under  her  Belley. 

March  y'^'  7,  1748  Entered  by  Rob't  King  of  Pelham — a  black  stear  com- 
ing in  two,  with  apice  Cuttof  y''  Near  Ear,  letter  W  ye  top  of  ye  Near  Horn. 

Oct  ye  19,  1748  Entered  by  John  Hunter  of  Pelham  two  Hefers  Coming 
in  three  and  a  steer  coming  in  three  one  of  y"'  is  Colored  ride  &  y*-'  other  two 
hefers  is  Ride  with  white  Belley  &  Some  White  on  y*^^  tail  y*'  steer  is  Colored 
Black  with  white  spots  these  hefers  his  a  Swallow  tail  Cutt  of  ye  Right  Ear. 

Nov  ye  5  1757  Entered  by  David  Cowden  of  Pelham  a  steer  a  yearling 
Past  Colored  aPeal  Ride  Cropt  in  ye  Near  Ear  &  a  Slit  in  ye  off  Ear 
with  White  on  His  Belly  and  White  on  His  Rump  &  white  on  his  tale. 

June  12,  1758  Entered  by  Robert  Hamilton  of  Pelham— a  Darkish  Bay 
Meere  Supposed  to  be  Eight  past  With  S  pon  y''  Near  hind  thigh  Both 
Hind  feet  white  &  a  long  .Scrach  of  white  Down  Hir  forehead  a  Neatrel 
troter.  Also  entered  by  Said  Hamilton  a  Horse  Colt  Collerid  a  Dark 
Brown  supposed  to  be  three  past  Branded  With  HD  on  His  off  shoulder 
With  some  White  Hears  on  y''  Middle  of  His  forehead  Neatral  troter. 
Also  Enterd  i)y  Said  Hamilton  a  Yearling  horse  colt  Collored  abayesh 
Sorrel  with  a  larg  Bleas  in  y''  forehead  Neatrel  paser. 

Taken  up  by  me  the  subscril^er  one  yoak  of  oxen  supposed  to  be  four 
years  old  Last  Spring  one  of  them  is  a  dark  Brown  with  a  white  Spot  on 
his  left  thigh  as  big  as  half  a  dollar.  Sum  Little  whight  under  his  Belly  the 
other  a  IJrite  Rid  with  sum  little  white  under  his  Belly  the  owner  may  have 
them  again  by  applying  to  me  the  Subscriber  and  proving  property  and  pay- 
ing Charges.  Nahum  Wedge. 
Pelham,  July  10  1799." 

"  ADVERTIZEMEXT 

Broke  into  tlie  inclosure  of  the  Subscriber  one  two  year  old  Stear  about 
the  twenty  third  of  June  last  having  no  Artificial  mark.  Dark  brown  line 
Back  with  White  and  some  other  spots  of  white  about  his  face  and  legs  the 
owner  is  Desired  to  prove  property  Pay  Charges  and  take  him  away. 

David  Hark'xkss. 
Pelham  July  25  1798." 

''  Oct  ye  19  1764  Taken  up  In  Damige  Present  by  Isaac  Gray  of  Pelham 
a  Black' Roand  .Meer  Colt  Supposed  to  be  three  years  old  with  White  on 
Hir  Hind  feet  &  Some  White  on  Hir  forehead  &  a  small  Bell  Hung  with  a 
Small  Strap. — Paser. 


OLD    ADVERTISEMENTS,    ETC.  489 

May  the  15,  1771  Taken  up  in  Daniige  present  by  John  Clark  of  Pelhani 
a  Brown  &  White  Cow  Supposed  to  be  about  Six  years  old  with  a  white  face 
&  a  White  Strike  along  Hir  Back  with  a  Pice  Cut  off  Hir  off  Ear  Gives  No 
Milk. 

August  the  19  1771  Taken  in  Damige  Present  by  John  McHertney  of 
Pelhani  Two  White  Meers  one  Supposed  to  be  about  ten  years  old,  the 
other  about  nine  ;  one  a  little  gray  a  Bout  the  head.  One  Branded  on  the 
Near  Buttock  with  the  hger  of  Eight — they  both  trote  &  Pace— one  of  Said 
Meers  his  abel  on. 

Taken  up  by  the  subscriber  on  the  sixth  instant  light  Dun  Bull  Abought 
Nine  Months  old  the  owner  is  desired  to  prove  property  pay  charges  and 
take  him  away.  JOHX  Harkxess. 

Pelham,  Nov.  8,  1789." 

''  Broke  into  the  inclosure  of  me  the  Subscriber  one  year  old  heffer  on  the 
16"'  day  of  July  1805  a  pale  Rid  with  no  Artificial  Marks  on  hir  the  owner  is 
Desired  to  prove  property  Pay  Charges  and  take  hir  away. 

John  Felton. 
Pelham  July  21"  1S05." 

"marks   for  creaturs." 

"  Mr  Seth  Edsons  Mark  is  a  Swallow  Tail  Cut  off  the  Near  Ear  and  a 
slit  in  the  off  Ear." 

"  May  9,  1794  Mr.  Jonathon  Grays  Mark  for  Sheep  is  a  crop  off  the  Near 
Ear." 

"  May  9  1794  Mr  Eliot  Grays  Mark  for  Sheep  is  a  swallow  Tail  out  of 
Both  Ears." 

"  Dec  29,  1796  The  Reverand  Mathias  Cazier  puts  on  his  hogs  and  Sheep 
a  hole  in  each  ear  and  a  half  penny  cut  out  the  lower  side  of  the  ear." 

"  June  31  1802  Mr.  Levi  Crawfords  mark  for  sheep  is  a  crop  off  the  Near 
Ear." 

"June  3  1S02  Thomas  Conkeys  mark  for  sheep  is  a  crop  off  the  off  ear 
and  a  slit  in  the  Near  Ear." 

"Aug  9,  1809  Nathan  Jilsons  Mark  for  Sheep  is  half  Penny  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  Left  Ear  and  a  half  penny  on  the  Wright  Ear  the  under  side." 

"  May  31  1813  Riley  Jilsons  Mark  for  Sheep  is  a  slit  in  the  right  ear." 

"  Nathan  Jilson  Jun^  Mark  for  Sheep  is  a  half  penny  on  the  upper  side  of 
the  right  Ear." 

Of  course  there  were  others. 

POSTING  OF  WARRANTS  FOR  TOWN  MEETINGS  AND  MANNER  OF  MAKING 
RETURN   ON    WARRANTS. 

Sometimes   the  warrants    were    given  to  two    constables  and  they 

notified  the  voters  personally.     Then  the  returns  were  made  by  each 

officer    separately,    one    constable   endorsing   upon    the   warrant    as 

follows  : 

"  By  varture  of  the  within  warrant  I  have  warned  ye  Inhabitons  of  Pel- 
ham from  the  Cross  Road  East,  Qualified  to  vote  in  town  affairs  to  Assem- 
ble &  meet  at  time  &  place  within  mentioned." 

The  other  officer  would  make  the  same  return  except  that  he  would 

affirm  that  he  had  warned  the   "  Inhabitons  "  west  of  the  cross  road  ; 

which  was  the  road  running  north  and  south  and  crossine;  the  Middle 


490  HIS'IORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

Range  road  at  the  center  of  the  town.  Later  the  two  constables 
would  affirm  that  they  had  together  warned  the  inhabitants  east  and 
west  of  the  cross  road.  In  1770,  meetings  were  called  l)y  notifica- 
tions posted  up  by  a  constable,  (place  of  posting  not  stated).  In 
1 77 1  James  Hunter,  constable,  made  return  that  he  had  notified  the 
qualified  voters  to  meet  at  time  and  place  "  By  posting  up  a  Notifi- 
cation on  the  tree  at  the  Meeting  House."  Nathaniel  Gray,  con- 
stable in  1772  made  a  return  stating  that  he  had  '•  Posted  up  a  copy 
of  said  warrant  on  the  tree  Some  Rods  Southwest  from  the  Meeting 
house.'"  Another  constable  posted  a  copy  of  his  warrant  upon  "  The 
Chestnut  tree  near  the  Meeting  house."  In  1782  Constables  x\ndrew 
Abercrombie  and  Abraham  Livermore  made  the  following  return  : 
"  The  Directions  of  the  within  Warrant  heath  been  Duly  observed  to 
the  Within  Described  Persons  Residing  East  >S:  West  of  the  Cross 
Road."  John  Conkey,  constable,  notified  and  warned  the  freeholders 
and  others  in  1785  by  "  setting  up  an  Advertisement  on  the  Meeting 
House  east  of  the  South  door."  The  same  constable  made  the  return 
on  another  warrant  the  same  year  in  these  words.  '•  By  vartue  of  the 
within  warrant  I  have  observed  the  Directions  of  the  Same." 
Andrewf  xAbercrombie  made  return  of  his  official  act  in  posting  a 
warrant  for  a  meeting,  Nov.  26,  17S7  as  follows  : 

"By  Vartue  of  the  within  Warrant  I  have  Set  up  .Advertizments  on  the 
old  and  New  Meeting  houses  (refering  to  the  West  and  East  parish  meeting 
houses)  Mentioning  the  Within  articles  and  Giving  Notice  Said  time  and 
place." 

The  same  constable  made  this  return  on  warrant  for  meeting  Feb. 
15,  1788: 

"  By  Vartue  of  the  Within  Warrant  I  have  Warned  Some  and  Endeav- 
oured that  the  Rest  should  have  Notice." 

Benoni  Shurtlieff  made  a  concise  return  while  he  was  in  office,  of 
which  the  following  is  a  specimen  : 

"Hampshire  ss.  by  this  warrant  I  have  Endeavoured  to  warn  the  West 
parish  as  the  Law  Directs." 

His  brother  officer's  style  was  equally  direct  and  pointed  : 

"  Hampshire  ss.  by  Vartue  of  the  within  warrant  I  have  Warned  Second 
Parish  as  the  Law  Directs.  Wii.liam  Johnston.  Constable. 

Pelham  June  4  1790." 

James  Thompson  was  a  popular  constable  and  spread  upon  the 
back  of  the  warrants  a  handsomely  turned  notice  of  his  official  action. 
A  specimen  of  his  style  follows  : 

"  By  vartue  of  a  Warrant  committed  to  me  from  the  selectmen  of  Pelliam 
I  have  Warned  and  given  Notice  to  the  freeholders  and  other  Lihabitance 
of  s'*  Town  by  satting  up  a  Notitication  on  Each  Parish  Meeting  House  to 
meet  at  time  and  place  within  Mentioned.     ALay  4"'  1789. 

Jam'ks  Thompson,  Constable. 


Stories — Pleasant,  and  Otherwise, 


DE  REX    VS.    HYDE. 

Not  long  after  the  settlement  of  Pelham  a  very  worthy  family 
bearing  the  surname  Hyde  settled  in  the  Hollow.  Among  the  chil- 
dren was  one  named  Samuel.  He  was  probably  full  of  fun  and  up 
to  all  sorts  of  mischief  as  a  boy  and  young  man,  playing  his  tricks 
without  thought  of  the  consequences,  and  was  shrewd  enough  to 
escape  detection  for  the  most  part,  but  there  came  a  time  when  he 
was  so  unfortunate  as  to  get  caught.  John  Worthington,  Esq., 
attorney  for  ye  Lord  ye  King,  was  appealed  to  and  Samuel  was 
brought  up  with  a  round  turn,  placed  under  arrest  and  brought  into 
court  at  Northampton  to  answer  for  his  misconduct.  The  charges 
against  him  are  explained  by  the  court  records  which  follows  : 

"  De  Rex  vs.  Hyde  1765.  John  Worthington  Esq  attorney  for  ye  Lord  ye 
King  in  this  behalf  comes  here  and  gives  this  Court  to  understand  and  be 
informed  that  Samuel  Hyde  of  Pelham  in  ye  County  of  Hampshire  yeoman 
in  the  night  next  following  the  third  Day  of  May  Instant  did  with  force  and 
arms  privately  and  secretely  and  in  the  night  time  set  up  and  erect  a  large 
Log  against  one  of  ye  Doors  of  ye  Dwelling  house  of  William  Fergerson  of 
said  Pelham  yeoman  and  did  also  set  up  and  erect  as  aforesaid  a  large 
Hoggs  Trough  against  another  of  ye  Doors  of  said  House  all  with  intent  to 
obstruct  and  hinder  ye  passage  through  ye  Doors  aforesaid  and  also  that  s"* 
Hyde  on  ye  same  Night  did  with  force  and  arms  and  Secretly  as  aforesaid 
take  six  shirts  ye  Goods  and  chattels  of  ye  Said  William  Conkey  from  a 
fence  near  his  house  aforesaid  where  they  were  then  hanging  and  ye  same 
shirts  ye  said  Hyde  did  then  and  there  in  ye  Manner  aforesaid  throw  on  ye 
Ground  or  rowl  in  the  Dirt  so  that  said  Shirts  were  thereby  much  Damni- 
fied. Also  that  said  Hyde  did  then  and  there  in  like  manner  break  and 
destroy  fourteen  Goose  Eggs  the  proper  goods  and  chattels  of  said  William 
then  being  in  said  William's  barn  and  also  then  and  there  with  like  force 
and  Secrecy  throw  down  twenty  rods  of  fence  partly  surrounding  one  Close 
of  William  Conkey  of  said  Pelham  yeoman,  and  did  then  and  there  take  off 
from  ye  hinges  with  force  and  arms  and  secretly  as  aforesaid  one  barn  door 
from  ye  barn  of  William  Conkey  of  said  Pelham  yeoman,  and  ye  same  Door 
put  under  water  in  a  pond  there  and  heaped  stones  on  ye  same  to  keep  it 
Sunken  and  Secreted  under  ye  water,  all  which  is  against  Law  and  Contrary 
to  ye  peace  of  ye  said  Lord  ye  King  his  Crown  and  dignity.  The  said  attor- 
ney of  ye  Lord  ye  King  appears  and  ye  said  Samuel  being  held  comes  here 


492  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

and  being  set  to  ye  Bar  and  put  to  plead  says  he  will  not  Contend  with  ye 
King.  It  is  therefore  considered  by  the  Court  now  here  that  ye  said  Sam- 
uel for  his  said  offence  shall  pay  a  fine  of  two  shillings  to  ye  King  &c  and 
Costs  of  prosecution  taxed  at  two  Pounds  five  Shillings  and  four  pence  two 
farthings. — Standing  Committed  &c" 

There  is  no  evidence  that  Samuel  Hyde  was  ever  complained  of 
afterwards  for  any  such  malicious  mischief,  and  there  is  evidence 
that  he  became  a  much  respected  citizen  and  deacon  of  the  Scotch 
Presbyterian  church ;  was  often  chosen  moderator  of  town  meetings, 
and  was  an  able  town  officer.  He  lived,  during  the  latter  part  of  his 
life,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  town  of  Pelham  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  Hiram  Ballou.  The  highway  leading  from  his  house 
north  to  the  Harkness  or  Jewett  farm  was  laid  out  Sept.  13,  1792 
and  '"was  built  by  the  town  for  the  accommodation  and  at  the 
request  of  Dea.  Samuel  Hyde  ;"  which  gives  evidence  of  the  influ- 
ence he  had  in  town  affairs,  being  sufficient  to  cause  the  selectmen 
to  lay  out  a  highway  in  place  of  a  cart  path,  for  the  good  deacon's 
use. 

Dea.  Samuel  Hyde  has  been  lying  at  rest  for  more  than  eighty- 
eight  years,  and  the  inscription  on  the  stone  that  marks  his  grave  in 
the  West  Burying  Ground  informs  the  visitor  that  he  departed  this 
life  in  the  year  iSio  at  the  age  of  67.  The  Hyde  family  has  no 
representatives  in  Pelham  at  present,  but  there  are  descendants  of 
Samuel  Hyde  in  Amherst  who  retain  all  the  good  qualities  of  their 
ancestry. 

REV.   ROBERT  ABERCROMBIE  AND  THE  CHURCH  COMMITTEE. 

Among  the  stories  that  have  come  down  from  the  time  of  the  pas- 
torate of  Mr.  Abercrombie  over  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church  at 
Pelham,  is  one  which  could  hardly  happen  now  at  the  close  of  the 
Nineteenth  Century,  but  something  might  have  happened  away  back 
in  the  middle  of  the  Eighteenth  century  that  has  been  used  as  a 
frame  work  which  in  the  years  since  has  been  padded  up  until  it  is 
an  enjoyable  story  that  in  substantially  its  present  form  has  been 
repeated  for  many  years.  The  Scotch  people  of  Pelham  were  not 
total  abstainers  from  spirituous  liquors ; — total  abstinence  was 
unknown  ; — there  were  no  societies  or  individuals  advocating  total 
abstinence  or  even  the  temperate  use  of  intoxicants.  While  these 
men  were  not  restrained  by  temperance  reformers  they  did  not  often 
indulge  to  excess ;  they  w'ere  men  of  strong  wills,  and   their  religious 


STORIES.  493 

faith  and  training  acted  as  an  additional  restraint  in  the  social  use  of 
strong  drink  so  prevalent  among  all  classes  at  that  time.  If  the 
pastor  called  upon  members  of  his  church  it  was  considered  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  set  before  him  something  to  drink,  and  as  good 
as  the  house  afforded  ;  and  when  a  member  of  the  church  or  parish 
called  on  the  minister  he  did  not  fail  in  the  social  requirements  of 
the  time,  and  flip  or  toddy  was  set  before  his  callers  promptly,  and 
both  partook  of  the  steaming  drinks  without  thought  of  wrong  doing 
or  of  the  possibility  of  harm  coming  to  themselves,  or  of  a  bad 
example  being  set  for  others.  Weddings  without  wine  or  other 
enjoyable  social  beverage  were  the  exception.  The  raising  of  a 
bridge  over  the  West  Branch,  of  a  house,  or  the  frame  of  a  barn  with- 
out flip  or  toddy  was  thought  impossible.  The  first  meeting  house 
was  raised,  but  not  without  a  cost  of  ''  £ii — 05s — 00  paid  to  John 
Crawford  for  Rum  to  the  Meeting  house  raising." 

While  the  social  events  of  the  times  required  the  presentation  of 
liquors,  and  all  men  drank  more  or  less,  excessive  drinking  was  not 
common  and  the  men  who  became  habitual  drunkards  were  but  a 
small  percentage  of  the  whole.  It  was  under  such  circumstances 
and  conditions  of  the  social  life  of  the  town  and  country  that  the 
occurrence  we  are  to  relate  took  place  and  we  wish  them  kept  in  mind 
while  reading  the  oft  repeated  story  of  Rev.  Robert  Abercrombie  and 
the  church  committee.  Mr.  Abercrombie  had  many  warm  friends 
among  the  people  of  his  church  and  parish  as  well  as  some  not  so 
friendly,  and  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  some  of  his  church,  not  any 
more  friendly  than  they  ought  to  be,  started  the  charge  that  the  pas- 
tor was  indulging  in  strong  drink  much  more  than  the  social  customs 
of  the  times  required  or  allowed ;  and  the  charge  became  so  oft 
repeated  that  the  church  as  a  body  was  obliged  to  notice  it  in  justice 
to  themselves,  and  a  church  meeting  was  duly  called  to  consider  the 
grave  charge  that  was  in  circulation  against  the  pastor.  After  due 
deliberation  and  discussion  it  was  deemed  best  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee of  three  members  of  the  church  to  wait  upon  the  pastor  and  in 
a  Christian  spirit  and  temper  advise  him  of  the  grave  charge  that 
had  been  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  church  and  in  the  same 
kindly  spirit  to  remonstate  with  him  upon  the  gravity  of  the  charge,, 
and  if  by  any  possibility  there  had  been  any  basis  for  the  alleged 
over  indulgence  they  were  instructed  to  point  out  the  necessity  for  the 
exercise  of  becoming  restraint  upon  himself  in  future,  so  that  na 
2,2> 


494  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

repetition  of  the  alleged  offence  might  occur.  After  having  attended 
to  the  duty  to  which  they  were  chosen  they  were  to  report  at  the  next 
regular  church  meeting.  Mr.  Abercrombie,  though  not  present  at 
the  meeting  at  which  the  committee  were  chosen,  was  advised  of  the 
action  taken,  and  was  also  advised  of  the  evening  on  which  the  com- 
mittee proposed  to  discharge  the  duty  laid  upon  them  by  calling  upon 
the  pastor  in  their  official  capacity. 

Pastor  Abercrombie  went  home  and  told  his  wife  he  was  expect- 
ing visitors  on  such  a  night,  and  on  their  arrival  he  directed  her  to 
follow  the  usual  practice  on  such  occasions,  i.  e.  to  mix  the  flip  or 
toddy,  which  his  visitors  would  expect  to  have  served  :  the  first  time 
with  a  small  quantity  of  spirit  and  a  goodly  quantity  of  water.  After 
a  reasonable  time  she  was  to  mix  another  round  of  flip,  with  less  water 
and  more  spirit  than  was  used  the  first  time,  and  if  the  visit  was 
extended  considerably  a  third  round  of  flip  was  to  be  prepared  using 
little  if  any  water,  but  composed  almost  entirely  of  rum. 

The  committee  arrived  on  their  mission  as  Pastor  Abercrombie 
had  been  informed,  and  as  the  custom  of  the  time  demanded,  the 
flip  was  brought  in  and  the  committee  did  not  feel  it  wrong  to  accept 
the  proffered  beverage.  The  committee  and  the  pastor  passed  the 
time  in  pleasant  conversation  for  sometime, — the  committee  not  find- 
ing it  quite  so  easy  a  matter  to  broach  the  business  which  they  had 
been  entrusted  with  as  they  expected  ;  but  finally  mustered  up  cour- 
age to  make  known  their  business  after  the  second  round  of  flip, 
with  more  rum  and  less  water  than  the  first,  had  loosened  their 
tongues. 

Pastor  Abercrombie  much  to  their  surprise  did  not  take  oftence, 
but  on  the  contrary  expressed  sorrow  that  he  should  have  given 
cause  for  such  action  by  the  church ; — if  there  had  been  real  cause 
for  the  charge  he  expressed  himself  as  thankful  for  the  kindly  and 
Christian  spirit  manifested  by  the  committee  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duty  laid  upon  them,  and  hoped  that  the  report  of  the  committee  to 
the  church  would  be  made  in  the  same  spirit  of  Christian  charity  and 
kindliness. 

The  committee  having  discharged  their  whole  official  duty  laid 
aside  their  dignity  and  reserve  as  well  as  all  thought  of  having  come 
with  a  serious  charge  against  their  pastor,  and  proceeded  to  enjoy 
the  occasion  as  an  exceedingly  pleasant  social  call. 


STORIES.  495 

It  was  quite  late  in  the  evening  when  the  last  round  of  flip,  com- 
posed wholly  of  rum,  and  a  generous  quantity  of  it,  was  brought  in, 
and  the  committee  drank  freely  thereof. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  enjoyment  of  the  occasion  had  so  com- 
pletely overcome  the  committee  that  they  were  unable  to  go  to  their 
homes,  and  were  lying  prone  upon  the  floor. 

Daylight  was  showing  beyond  the  line  of  Pelham  East  hill  when 
two  of  them  began  pulling  themselves  together  to  make  a  start  for 
home,  and  the  drenched  nature  of  the  third  member  of  the  committee 
"  lay  in  swinish  sleep "  until  the  next  forenoon,  and  some  afliirm 
until  the  afternoon  of  the  day  following  their  official  call  upon  the  Par- 
son, before  he  had  sufficient  command  of  himself  to  set  out  for  his 
home. 

Unlike  many  other  committees  who  make  up  reports  to  lay  before 
the  body  that  gave  authority  to  investigate  and  report  at  some  future 
occasion,  this  committee  did  not  allow  the  public  to  learn  of  what 
happened  at  the  Parson's  on  that  eventful  night,  nor  what  their  report 
was  to  be  at  the  next  regular  meeting  of  the  church.  For  obvious 
reasons  the  committee  maintained  a  most  determined  silence  while 
they  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  time  for  the  stated  church  meeting. 

The  days  went  by  one  by  one  until  the  much  dreaded  occasion 
came  at  which  the  report  of  their  official  visit  must  be  made.  The 
day  for  the  meeting  came  at  last.  After  some  informal  matters  of 
business  had  been  disposed  of,  the  committee  who  were  chosen  to 
wait  upon  Pastor  Abercrombie  to  remonstrate  with  him  for  over 
indulgence  on  social  occasions  were  called  upon  for  a  report. 

The  spokesman  arose  to  discharge  a  very  unpleasant  duty,  not 
so  much  on  account  of  Pastor  Abercrombie  as  on  that  of  the  com- 
mittee. The  report  was  very  brief,  and  expressed  in  language  which 
did  not  lead  to  discussion  or  inquiry,  as  follows  : 

''  The  committee  chosen  at  the  last  church  meeting  to  call  upon 
our  pastor,  have  attended  to  their  duty  and  desire  to  report, — That 
he  gave  us  Christian  satisfaction^ 

REV.    DR.    PARSONS    OF    AMHERST,    AND    THE    PEOPLE    OF    PELHAM. 

The  Pelham  people  were  much  interested  in  establishing  a  college 
at  Amherst,  and  considerable  building  material  was  contributed  for 
the  first  college  building  by  Pelham  people,  and  Adam  Johnson  left 
$4,000  to  erect  Johnson  Hall. 


496  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

After  the  college  was  once  established  there  was  for  many  years  a 
systematic  and  persistant  recourse  to  begging  for  the  institution. 
Ministers  journeyed  from  church  to  church  to  present  the  needs  of 
Amherst  college.  A  collection  followed  such  sermons  in  all  cases, 
and  much  money  was  obtained  in  that  way.  Not  only  did  these 
solicitors  go  out  to  some  distance,  but  they  did  not  forget  to  pre- 
sent the  needs  of  Amherst  college  to  the  churches  of  near  by  towns. 
Pelham  did  not  escape  from  these  importunate  calls  for  funds  from 
regular  authorized  collectors,  nor  was  all  the  funds  raised  by  regular 
solicitors.  It  was  considered  a  proper  thing  for  any  minister  to  ask 
for  a  collection  for  Amherst  college  wherever  he  might  be  called 
upon  to  preach. 

One  Sunday  Rev.  Dr.  Parsons  preached  at  Pelham,  and  at  the 
close  of  his  sermon  asked  for  a  collection  for  Amherst  college. 
The  boxes  were  duly  passed  around  the  old  meeting  house,  but  came 
back  as  empty  as  they  started  on  the  tour  of  the  pews. 

The  Doctor  returned  to  Amherst  and  on  Monday  called  upon 
Aunt  Rene  Cowles,  one  of  his  friends,  and  during  his  call  told  Aunt 
Rene  of  his  experience  at  Pelham  the  day  previous.  "  Just  think  of 
it  "  said  he,  '•  I  went  to  Pelham  to  preach  yesterday,  and  at  the  close 
of  the  afternoon  sermon  I  asked  for  a  collection  for  Amherst  college, 
and  if  you  can  believe  it  not  one  cent  did  the  collectors  get."  "  Is 
it  possible?  "  exclaimed  Aunt  Rene.  "  Yes,"  said  the  Doctor,  "  didn't 
get  a  cent,  but  you  can't  guess  what  hymn  I  gave  out  to  be  sung  after 
I  learned  that  not  a  cent  had  been  contributed."  "  Of  course  not  " 
said  Aunt  Rene,  ''but  what  was  it."  "Well"  said  the  Doctor.  "I 
gave  out  the  one  of  Doctor  Watts',  beginning  :  '  Oh  !  what  a  wretched 
land  is  this,  that  gives  us  no  supplies.' "  "  Did  they  sing  it?  " 
inquired  Aunt  Rene.  "Yes  they  did,  and  with  a  will  "  replied  Dr. 
Parsons. 

Doubtless  the  people  of  Pelham,  with  other  towns,  had  been  called 
upon  for  contributions  for  the  college  until  it  had  become  monoto- 
nous, and  withheld  money  for  that  reason,  and  it  would  not  be 
supprising  if  they  caught  on  to  the  grim  humor  of  Parson  Parsons  in 
the  selection  of  the  closing  hymn  and  sang  with  a  will  in  apprecia- 
tion of  the  Doctor's  dry  thrust  at  them  for  not  contributing  money 
for  Amherst  college  at  his  suggestion. 


497 


FARMER    HARKNESS    AND    THE    TRAVELLER. 

John  and  William  Harkness,  brothers,  were  owners  of  large  farms 
situated  along  the  county  road  leading  from  Amherst  through  Pelham. 
Their  lands  extended  from  the  west  line  of  Pelham  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  or  more  east  and  a  part  of  the  way  on  both  sides  of  the  high- 
way, and  included  the  lands  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  where  the 
Orient  House  stood.  The  houses  they  lived  in  are  still  standing. 
John  lived  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  Joseph  R.  Powell,  and 
William  in  the  house  owned  by  Mrs.  Annette  Morgan.  They 
were  successful  farmers  and  their  pastures  extended  to  the  west  line 
of  the  town,  and  the  stone  bridge  on  the  town  way  south  of  J.  R. 
Anderson's  was  built  for  a  cattle  pass  through  which  and  under  the 
highway  their  cattle  might  reach  the  pastures  further  west.  East  of 
the  house  John  lived  in  and  on  the  same  side  of  the  way  are  gravelly 
knolls  that  were  often  plowed  and  sowed  to  winter  rye  in  the  fall  for 
harvesting  next  season. 

Once  when  John  Harkness  was  plowing  these  knolls  and  had 
halted  his  cattle  to  rest  near  the  highway,  a  gentleman  driving  a 
fine  pair  of  horses  attached  to  a  nice  carriage,  containing  himself 
and  family  was  slowly  climbing  the  hills  towards  Pelham  center,  and 
seeing  the  farmer  resting  his  team  of  cattle  near  by,  stopped  his  fine 
turnout  and  bidding  the  farmer  good  morning,  received  the  usual 
salutation  in  return.  "I  wish  to  ask  you  one  question,"  said  the 
gentleman.  "What  is  it?"  returned  the  plowman.  "What  will  such 
land  as  you  are  plowing  bear,  is  what  I  desire  to  know."  Just  then 
the  farmer  gave  the  word  for  the  cattle  to  go  forward  and  as  he 
resumed  the  plow  handles  replied,  "  It  will  bear  manure,  sir." 

Quite  satisfied  of  the  truthfulness  of  the  farmer's  answer  the  gen- 
tleman resumed  his  journey  up  the  hills  towards  Pelham. 


CRIMES. 

Not  many  crimes  of  a  serious  nature  have  been  committed  in 
Pelham  since  its  incorporation.  In  1859  Prince  Dwelly  lost  his 
life  at  the  hands  of  some  drunken  companions  at  the  house  of  Seth 
Davis  on  the  Second  Range  Road.  Charles  Wiley,  of  Amherst,  a 
companion  of  Davis  at  the  time,  was  arrested  plead  guilty  to  man- 
slaughter and  was  given  eighteen  months  in  the  House  of  Correction 


498  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

at  Northampton.  Davis  was  arrested  for  assault  upon  Dwelly,  plead 
guilty  and  was  given  five  months  in  the  House  of  Correction,  after 
testifying  for  the  state  against  Wiley. 

On  the  iith  of  April  1S81,  a  dance  was  held  at  a  building  near 
the  center  of  the  town,  sometimes  used  as  a  cider  mill.  At  this 
dance  Charles  A.  Briggs,  21,  and  Charles  Stetson,  23,  were  present. 
There  had  been  trouble  between  the  two  before  this  meeting,  caused 
by  jealousy,  and  the  two  had  unpleasant  words  relating  to  their  dif- 
ferences and  both  went  outside  the  building.  Stetson,  being  near 
the  edge  of  the  highway,  when  after  a  few  words  Briggs  drew  a  revol- 
ver and  fired  three  shots  at  Stetson  which  struck  him  in  the  head, 
killing  him  almost  instantly.  Briggs  was  arrested  and  tried  for  the 
crime  and  sentenced  to  state  prison  for  life,  but  was  pardoned  after 
about  ten  years.  Stetson  and  Briggs  were  not  natives  of  Pelham 
but  were  living  in  or  near  the  town  temporarily. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1882,  there  was  a  great  crime  com- 
mitted at  the  house  of  Horatio  Marsh  in  the  south  part  of  the  town 
on  the  farm  known  as  the  Ellison  Dodge  place,  by  Marion  Mont- 
gomery, who  shot  his  four  years  old  son  in  the  forehead  killing  him 
instantly  ;  the  shot  was  in  response  to  the  child's  request, — "  Kiss 
me  papa."'  The  boy  was  standing  on  a  hand-sled  in  the  kitchen,  one 
that  his  father  had  brought  as  a  Christmas  present.  After  killing 
the  boy,  Montgomery  stepped  into  the  sitting-room  and  pointed  his 
pistol  at  the  head  of  his  daughter  six  or  seven  years  of  age,  but  it 
missed  fire  and  the  child  ran.  Firing  again  Montgomery  shot  the 
girl  in  the  cheek,  the  ball  passing  out  on  the  side  of  the  neck  with- 
out making  a  serious  wound.  Montgomery's  wife  was  the  daughter 
of  Mr.  Marsh  and  was  not  living  with  her  husband.  He  had  come 
to  spend  Christmas,  and  the  day  of  the  murder,  when  about  to  leave 
asked  his  wife  if  she  would  live  with  him  again  ;  to  this  she  replied 
in  the  negative.  He  then  asked  if  he  could  have  the  children,  and 
received  the  same  answer.  Then  the  killing  occurred.  Mr.  Marsh 
heard  the  firing  and  rushing  into  the  house  grappled  with  the  mur- 
derer, threw  him  on  the  floor,  face  downward,  and  held  him  until 
cords  were  brought  with  which  Montgomery  was  bound  and  taken  to 
the  jail  at  Northampton.  He  was  tried  and  sent  to  state  prison  for 
life,  but  received  a  pardon  after  a  few  years.  Montgomery  was  not 
a  resident  of  Pelham,  and  his  family  had  resided  in  town  but  a  short 
time. 


VIKW    FROM    WEST   BUKVING   GKOUiNU. 
It  in  Pelliam  on  the  right,    Mt.  Holyoke  on  the  left,  distant  mountains  in 
Western  Hampshire. 


Sketch  of  Henry  Pelham, 

(1696— 1754.) 


From  Memoirs  of  Henry  Pelham,  by  William  Coxe,  Vol.  II, 
301—304. 

"  Towards  him,  even  political  rivalry  seems  scarcely  to  have 
engendered  either  prejudice  or  animosity  ;  and,  in  the  estimate  of  the 
principles,  by  which  he  was  guided,  the  ends  which  he  pursued,  and 
the  means  which  he  employed,  both  his  opponents  and  friends,  with 
little  exception,  cordially  agree. 

His  knowledge  was  rather  useful  than  extensive  ;  his  understand- 
ing more  solid  than  brilliant.  His  abilities  did  not  burst  forth  with 
that  splendor  which  has  distinguished  the  opening  career  of  many 
statesmen,  but  were  gradually  developed  by  experience  and  practice, 
and  seemed  to  grow  equal  to  the  occasions,  by  which  they  were  called 
into  action.  He  was  slow  and  cautious  in  deciding,  yet  firm  and  per- 
severing, when  his  resolution  was  once  formed ;  though  he  knew  the 
proper  time  and  occasion,  to  bend  to  popular  prejudice,  or  public 
opinion.  Instead  of  declining  under  the  weight  of  years,  his  ener- 
gies continued  to  increase  ;  and,  at  no  period  did  he  better  assume 
the  spirit  and  authority  of  a  great  minister,  than  in  that  which  imme- 
diately preceded  his  dissolution. 

His  temper  was  naturally  equable  and  conciliatory  ;  and  his  dis- 
position candid  and  unassuming.  He  was  cautious  in  raising  expec- 
tations, but  faithful  in  the  performance  of  his  promises.  These  qual- 
ities, instead  of  being  deteriorated  by  the  exercise  of  power,  distin- 
guished to  the  latest  period,  the  minister  as  well  as  the  man ;  and  to 
them  he  owed  more  friends,  and  a  stronger  attachment,  than  the  most 
profound  and  refined  art  could  have  acquired.  Even  his  opponents 
felt  the  value  of  such  merits  ;  and,  however  disposed  to  question  the 
propriety  of  his  measures,  they  seldom  failed  to  render  justice  to  his 
sincerity,  disinterestedness,  and  integrity.  Indeed,  a  better  proof  can- 
not be  given,  of  the  suavity  of  his  manners,  and  the  impression  pro- 
duced by  his  manliness   and   candor,  than   the  treatment   he  expe- 


500  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

rienced  in  his  intercourse  with  the  sovereign.  Notwithstanding  the 
irritability  of  temper,  and  the  pertinacity  of  opinion,  which  marked 
the  character  of  George  II.,  his  Majesty  invariably  behaved  towards 
Mr.  Pelham  with  kindness  and  attention ;  alw^ays  listened  to  his 
advice  with  complacency;  and,  in  numerous  cases,  yielded  to  his 
representations,  though  frequently  opposed  to  his  favorite  plans  of 
continental  policy.  When  he  wa.s  informed  of  his  death,  he  testified 
his  regret  by  the  exclamation,  '  Now  I  shall  have  no  more  peace  !  ' 

In  manner,  Mr.  Pelham  united  dignity  and  ease.  Though  nat- 
urally grave,  yet  no  one  was  more  free  from  affected  reserve  or  repul- 
sive austerity  ;  and,  in  his  social  hours,  no  one  could  more  grace- 
fully unbend,  and  mingle  in  the  playfulness  of  conversation. 

In  his  public  character,  he  was  uniformly  moderate  and  disinter- 
ested ;  and,  it  is  mentioned  to  his  honor,  by  almost  the  only  author 
who  has  treated  him  with  obloquy,  that  he  lived  without  abusing  his 
power,  and  died  poor.  In  a  word,  Mr.  Pelham  may  be  ranked  among 
the  few  ministers  who  enjoyed  at  once  the  esteem  of  the  sovereign, 
the  confidence  of  the  parliament,  the  respect  of  opposition,  and  the 
love  of  the  people. 

Without  the  natural  gifts  of  a  great  orator,  he  always  spoke  with 
good  sense  and  effect ;  and  his  speeches,  though  rarely  marked  with 
bursts  of  eloquence,  or  decorated  with  rhetorical  graces,  were  remark- 
able for  judgment  and  perspicuity.  Though  occasionally  too  collo- 
quial and  redundant,  they  were  delivered  with  such  candor  and  sim- 
plicity, as  to  convince  his  hearers  that  they  directly  conveyed  the 
real  sentiments  of  his  heart ;  and  were  rendered  still  more  effective, 
by  the  general  conviction  wiiich  prevailed  of  his  honesty,  economy, 
and  patriotism. 

By  his  well  known  attachment  to  true  liberty,  and  the  respect  he 
ever  preserved  for  the  principles  of  the  constitution,  he  dispelled  all 
suspicions  of  the  slightest  intention  to  extend  the  royal  prerogative 
beyond  its  due  bounds,  or  in  the  least  degree  to  incroach  upon  the 
rights  of  the  people.  He  may  indeed  be  classed  among  those  sound 
patriots,  whom  Mr.  Burke  distinguishes  by  the  name  of  the  Old 
Whigs,  who  were  equally  free  from  faction  on  the  one  hand,  and  ser- 
vility on  the  other. 

In  the  development  of  his  financial  arrangements,  he  is  said  to 
have  proved  himself  a  worthy  pupil  of  Sir  Robert  Walpole ;  and,  in 
many  instances,  is   admitted  to  have   been  scarcely  inferior  to  his 


SKETCH    OF    HENRY    PELHAM.  50I 

able  master.  As  a  minister,  however,  he  was  certainly  deficient  in  a 
knowledge  of  the  general  system  of  European  policy.  Indeed,  he 
seems  to  have  limited  his  cares  and  ambition  to  his  own  peculiar 
province,  the  finances  and  domestic  economy  of  the  country;  and 
when  he  did  venture  to  interfere  with  the  management  of  foreign 
affairs,  it  was  rather  from  necessity  than  inclination.  From  this  prin- 
ciple, he  felt  all  the  sensibility  of  a  financier,  with  regard  to  the  state 
of  public  credit ;  and  gave  cause  for  the  complaints  of  his  colleagues, 
that  he  sometimes  manifested  too  much  despondency  and  alarm  in 
the  House  of  Commons.  Sometimes,  also,  like  Sir  Robert  Walpole, 
he  was  carried  by  his  love  of  peace  to  too  great  an  extent  of  conces- 
sion. As  the  head  of  the  financial  department,  he  was  a  frugal 
steward  of  the  public  money  ;  and,  having  experienced  the  difficul- 
ties and  embarassments  attending  protracted  and  unsuccessful  hos- 
tilities, he  was  led  to  consider  even  a  doubtful  peace  as  preferable  to 
the  most  successful  war  ;  and  to  think  no  sacrifice  too  great  for  the 
preservation  of  national  tranquility. 

To  the  agriculture,  manufactures,  and  commerce,  of  the  country, 
he  was  vigilantly  attentive;  and  not  only  rose  superior  to  the  narrow 
principles  of  preceding  times,  but  suggested  or  promoted  a  greater 
number  of  useful  and  practical  regulations,  than  any  other  individual, 
in  a  similar  period  of  time,  since  the  Revolution. 

The  great  feature  of  his  administration,  is  the  reduction  of  the 
interest  on  the  national  debt,  and  the  consolidation  of  the  public 
funds.  This  important  operation  was  not  only  accomplished  with 
peculiar  prudence,  but  with  equal  justice  tow^ards  the  public  and  the 
fundholder ;  and  no  better  proof  can  be  adduced  of  its  merits  and 
effects,  than  the  ready  acquiescence  with  which  it  was  attended,  and 
the  general  satisfaction  since  expressed  in  its  favor. 

In  his  private  life,  Mr.  Pelham  was  equally  moral  and  regular.  He 
had,  as  Lord  Chesterfield  observes,  many  domestic  virtues,  and  no 
vices.  He  was  a  tender  husband,  an  indulgent  father,  and  a  kind 
master;  and  though  peculiarly  liberal  in  his  religious  opinions,  he 
was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Church  of  England." 


Representatives  to  the   General  Court. 


There  was  no  representative  from  Pelhani  in  the  Colonial  legisla- 
ture. Not  until  after  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  in  17S0  did 
the  town  take  upon  itself  the  responsibility  of  electing  a  man  to  rep- 
resent it  in  the  General  Court,  and  assume  the  burden  of  paying  the 
man  chosen.  The  amount  of  money  received  by  members  was  small, 
but  was  paid  by  the  town  in  the  form  of  a  tax.  This  fact  is  suf- 
ficient to  account  for  the  record,  "  Voted  not  to  send,"  found  quite 
often  on  the  record  books.  Pelham  did  not  feel  like  sending  a  man 
every  year.  In  1S57  the  district  system  was  adopted,  and  the 
smaller  towns  were  thereby  substantially  shut  out  from  selecting 
candidates  for  the  General  Court,  consequently  Pelham  has  not  been 
allowed  to  select  the  representative  since  1880,  and  has  been  repre- 
sented by  one  of  its  own  citizens  but  sixty-one  years  since  1780. 
From  1780  to  1782,  there  was  no  election,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1783,  it  was  decided  to  have  the  town  represented.  The  following 
is  believed  to  be  a  complete  list  of  men  who  have  represented  the 
town  in  the  General  Court,  and  the  years  they  served  : 
Thomas  Johnson— 1783,  1784. 
Lieut.  Joseph  Packard — 1787.     Mr.  Packard  was  also  chosen  to  represent 

the  town  at  the  Convention  for  framing  the  Constitution,  1779-80. 
Adam  Clark — 1788,  1789.  1790,  1792,  1793,  1795,  1796,  1797.      He  was  also  a 

member  of  the  Convention  of  1788. 
Captain  Isaac  Abercrombie — 1799,  1800,  1801,  1802,  1804,  1806,  1809,  1819. 
Nathaniel  Sampson — 1S05. 
John  Conkey--iSo8. 
James  Abercrombie — 18 10,  iSii. 
Moses  Gray— 1813. 
Henry  Kingman — 1816,  1S20. 

Rev.  Winthrop  Bailey — Member  Constitutional  Convention  of  1820. 
Oliver  Smith— 1824. 
Ezra  Brown — 1S27. 

Cyrus  Kingman — 1828.     Also  member  of  the  Senate,  1849.  1S50. 
Ziba  Cook — 1829,  1830,  1831,  1832. 
Lewis  Draper — 1833,  1834. 
Whipple  Cook — 1S35. 
Luther  Chapin — 1836. 
Rev.  Luther  Pierce— 1S37. 
Joseph  Barrows — 1839. 
David  Abercrombie — 1840,  1852. 
John  Parmenter — 1S41. 
George  B.  Pitman — 1842. 
James  Thurston — 1843. 


TOWN    OFFICERS.  503 

Calvin  D.  Eaton — 1844,  1S4S.     Also  member  of  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion of  1853. 
Nehemiah  W.  Aldrich— 1851. 
Thomas  Buffum — 1854. 
Rufus  Grout — 1S55. 
Marcus  C.  Grout — 1861. 
Rev.  John  Jones — 1866. 
Sylvester  Jevvett — 1870. 
Asahel  Gates — 1874. 
Charles  O.  Parmenter— 1880. 

In  1890,  James  R.  Anderson  of  Pelham,  received  the  nomination 
in  the  Fifth  Hampshire  district,  but  failed  of  an  election  because  of 
political  combinations,  and  not  because  of  any  lack  of  ability  or  fit- 
ness for  the  position. 


Town     Officers. 


Town  officers  elected  at  the  annual  meetings  from  1743  to  1762, 
inclusive,  will  be  found  in  full  on  pages  from  77  to  112.  Modera- 
tors, Town  Clerks,  Treasurers  and  Selectmen,  are  given  from  1763 
to  189S,  inclusive,  explanation  : — Following  the  year,  the  first 
name  is  that  of  Moderator;  second.  Town  Clerk  ;  third.  Town  Treas- 
urer. The  three  or  five  names  following  these  are  the  Board  of 
Selectmen  for  that  year. 

1763.  Moderator,  WiUiam  Croset:  Town  Clerk,  John  Dick:  Treasurer, 
Thomas  Dick;  SelectJiien,'Koh&x1  Meklem.  Hugh  Johnston. George  Pette- 
son,  Isaac  Gray,  James  Cowan. 

1764.  William  Croset;  John  Dick:  Hugh  Johnston;  Isaac  Gray,  William 
Croset,  Alexander  Conkey,  Thomas  Johnson,  John  Crawford. 

1765.  Thomas  Dick:  John  Dick:  Hugh  Johnston;  William  Croset,  Daniel 
Gray,  Patrick  McMullan,  Thomas  Cochran,  James  Halbert. 

1766.  Thomas  Dick;  John  Dick;  Hugh  Johnston ;  John  Crawford,  Thos. 
Johnston,  George  Petteson,  Thomas  Dick,  James  Cowan. 

1767.  William  Croset:  John  Dick;  Hugh  Johnston  ;  James  Halbert,  Archi- 
bald Croset,  Robert  Alaklem,  William  Conkey,  James  Harkness. 

1768.  William  Croset;  John  Dick;  Hugh  Johnston;  William  Conkey, 
Robert  Hamilton,  Archibald  Croset,  John  Dick,  David  Cowden. 

1769.  William  Croset:  John  Dick;  Alexander  AlcColloch ;  James  Halbert, 
David  Cowden,  John  Crawford,  Robert  Hamilton,  George  Petteson. 

1770.  William  Croset;  John  Dick;  Alexander  McColloch  ;  Robert  Ham- 
ilton, David  Cowden,  George  Petteson,  James  Berry,  Archibald  Croset. 

1771.  William  Croset;  John  Dick;  Alexander  McColloch;  James  Berry, 
Robert  Hamilton,  George  Petteson,  John  Dick,  James  Halbert. 


504  HISTORY    OF    PELHAIM,    MASS. 

1772.  William  Croset :  John  Dick  ;  Alexander  McColloch  ;  John  Hamilton, 
John  Dick.  Hugh  Holland,  Robert  Hamilton,  William  Croset. 

I773'  John  Crawford;  John  Dick;  Alexander  McColloch;  William  Hark- 
ness,  Daniel  Gray,  John  Crawford,  John  Thompson,  Robert  Hamilton. 

1774.  William  Croset;  John  Dick;  Alexander  McColloch:  Thomas  Coch- 
ran, David  Cowden,  Daniel  Gray,  Hugh  Johnston,  John  Crawford. 

1775.  John  Crawford;  John  Dick;  Alexander  McColloch;  Daniel  Gray, 
Hugh  Johnston,  Robert  Hamilton,  George  Petteson,  John  Crawford. 

1776.  William  Croset:  John  Dick;  Ebenezer  Gray;  William  Harkness, 
James  Dunlap,  Jonathan  Gray,  Hugh  Johnston,  John  Thompson. 

1777.  Daniel  Gray;  John  Dick;  Ebenezer  Gray:  Isaac  Gray,  George 
Petteson,  James  Cowan,  Mathew  Clark,  Ebenezer  Gray. 

1778.  John  Crawford  ;  John  Dick  ;  Ebenezer  Gray :  Joseph  Packard,  Daniel 
Gray,  James  Taylor,  Jonathan  Hood,  Abraham  Livermore. 

1779.  Hugh  Johnston:  John  Dick;  Ebenezer  Gray:  Hugh  Johnston,  Geo. 
Petteson,  William  Dunlap,  Jonathan  Hood,  Daniel  Packard. 

1780.  Hugh  Johnston:  John  Dick;  Ebenezer  Gray:  Hugh  Johnston, 
Jacob  Edson,  John  Rankin,  .Samuel  Hyde,  Thomas  Johnson. 

1781.  Daniel  Gray;  John  Dick;  Ebenezer  Gray :  Joseph  Packard,  Daniel 
Gray,  Nehemiah  Hinds,  David  Cowden,  Caleb  Kith. 

1782.  Samuel  Hyde;  William  Conkey,  Jr.;  Ebenezer  Gray;  Aaron  Gray, 
Joseph  Hamilton,  Jonathan  Hood,  William   Dunlap,  Thomas  McMullen. 

1783.  Samuel  Hyde:  William  Conkey,  Jr.;  Ebenezer  Gray;  Aaron  Gray, 
Jonathan  Hood,  William  Dunlap,  Joseph   Hamilton,  Thomas  McMullen. 

1784.  Samuel  Hyde;  John  Rinken  ;  Ebenezer  Gray;  Joseph  Hamilton, 
Nathaniel  Sampson,  Timothy  Packard,  John  Pebbles,  James  King. 

1785.  Joseph  Packard;  John  Rinken;  Ebenezer  Gray ;  Timothy  Packard, 
John  Conkey,  Mathew  Clark,  John  Bruce.  James  Taylor. 

1786.  Nehemiah  Hynds;  John  Rinken;  Ebenezer  Gray:  Mathew  Clark, 
John  Rinken,  Joseph  Hamilton. 

1787.  Alexander  Berry;  John  Rinken:  Ebenezer  Gray :  Nathaniel  Samp 
son,  John  Bruce,  Alexander  Berry. 

1788.  Capt.  John  Conkey;  Joseph  Hamilton:  Ebenezer  Gray:  Jonathan 
Hood,  Capt.  John  Conkey,  John  McMullen,  Adam  Clark.  William  Choat. 

1789.  John  Rinken:  Joseph  Hamilton:  Ebenezer  Gray:  Jonathan  Hood, 
James  C.  McMillen,  Mathew  Clark,  David  Conkey,  Lieut.  John  Rinken. 

1790.  Capt.  John  Conkey :  Joseph  Hamilton ;  Dea.  Ebenezer  Gray  :  Mathew 
Clark,  James  Dunlap.  David  Conkey,  Lt.  John  Rinken,  Robert  Mcklam. 

1791.  Samuel  Hyde:  Joseph  Hamilton;  Dea.  E^benezer  Gray  ;  Lieut.  John 
Rinken,  Alexander  Berry,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Sampson.  David  Conkey, 
Robert  McKliem. 

1792.  Dr.  N.  Hinds:  Jos.  Hamilton;  Dea.  Eb.  Gray;  Capt.  John  Conkey, 
Lieut.  John  Rinken,  Lieut.  Mathew  Gray,  Wm.  Conkey,  Rob't  Croset. 

1793.  Capt.  John  Conkey;  Jos.  Hamilton:  Dea.  Eb.  Gray;  Dr.  N.  Hinds, 
David  Conkey,  N.  Sampson.  James  C.  McMillen,  Capt.  John  Conkey. 

1794.  Dr.  N.  Hinds;  Joseph  Hamilton:  Dea.  Eb.  Gray;  David  Conkey, 
Jonathan  Hood,  Lieut.  I.  Abercrombie,  Alexander  Berry,  Capt.  Joel  Gray. 

1795.  Alexander  Berry;  Joseph  Hamilton;  Dea.  Eb.  Gray:  Lieut.  John 
Rinken,  David  Conkey,  Lieut.  Isaac  Abercrombie. 

1796.  Maj.  John  Conkey:  Joseph  Hamilton:  Ebenezer  Gray:  .Mathew 
Clark,  James  C.  McMillen,  Patrick  Pebbles,  Robert  Croset,  John  Barber 


TOWN    OFFICERS.  505 

1797.  Dr.  N.   Hinds;   Joseph   Hamilton;    Dea.   Eb.   Gray;   Jol:n    Barber, 
John  Pebbles.  Adam  Clark,  Esq.,  Alexander  Conkey,  Dr.  N.  Hinds. 

1798.  Dr.   N.  Hinds;  Joseph   Hamilton;  Dea.  Eb.  Gray;    David  Conkey, 
Dr.  N.  Hinds,  Lieut.  John  Rankin,  Alexander  Berry,  John  Peebles. 

1799.  Dr.  N.  Hinds;  Joseph  Hamilton:  Dea.  Eb.  Gray;  David  Conkey, 
Lieut.  John  Rinken.  John  Hood,  Dr.  N.  Hinds,  Robert  Croset. 

1800.  Lieut.   John    Rinken;    Joseph    Hamilton;    David    Conkey;    Robert 
Croset,  J.  .McKliem,  Dea.  N.  Sampson,  Dan'l  Harkness,  Rob't  Huston. 

1801.  Dr.    N.   Hinds;   Joseph  Hamilton;    David  Conkey;   John  Maklam, 
Robert  Croset,  Jonathan  Hood,  Joel  Grout,  Lieut.  John  Rinken. 

1802.  N.  Hinds;  Jos.  Hamilton;  D.  Conkey;   Maj.  John  Conkey,  Ensign 
David  Wright,  Lieut.  Samuel  Joslin,  John  Maklaim,  Robert  McCollah. 

1803.  Dr.  N.Hinds;  Joseph  Hamilton  ;  David  Conkey;  Maj.  John  Conkey, 
Lieut.  S'am'l  Joslin,  Lieut.  John  Rinken,  John  Miller,  Ensign  David  Wait. 

1804.  Dr.  N.  Hinds;  Joseph  Hamilton  :   David  Conkey;   Maj.  John  Conkey, 
Lieut.  J.  Rinken,  Lieut.  Sam'l  Joslin,  Lieut.  J.  Miller,  Lieut.  Moses  Gray.' 

1805.  Maj.  John  Conkey;  Joseph  Hamilton;  David  Conkey;  Lieut.  John 
Rinken,  Jonathan  Packard,  Joel  Grout,  Jos.  Akins,  Jos.  Hamilton,  Esq. 

1806.  Joseph    Aikin ;    Joseph    Hamilton;    David   Conkey;    Maj.    Conkey, 
Wing  Kelley,  James  Abercrombie,  Joseph  Aikins.  Joseph  W.  Hamilton. 

1807.  Maj.  John  Conkey;  Isreal  Conkey;    David  Conkey;    Capt.  Samuel 
Joslin,  Lt.  J.  Rankin,  L  Abercrombie,  Esq.,  J.  W.  Hamilton,  Capt.  M.  Gray. 

1808.  Maj.  John  Conkey;  Isreal  Conkey ;  David  Conkey;  Maj.  J.  Conkey, 
Wing  Kelley,  Seth  Edson,  Nathan  Felton,  Joseph  W.  Hamilton. 

1809.  Maj.   John    Conkey;    Isreal   Conkey;    David    Conkey;    Maj.   John 
Conkey,  Oliver  Smith,  Lew^is  Draper,  Nathan  Felton,  Jon't'n.  Richardson. 

1810.  Isaac   Abercrombie;    Isreal    Conkey;    David   Conkey;    Maj.   John 
Conkey,  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Andrew  Hyde,  Roland  Sears,  J.  Richardson. 

1811.  Isaac  Abercrombie ;  John    Rankin,  Jr.,  David  Conkey;  Isaac  Aber- 
crombie, Andrew  Hyde,  John  Rankin.  William  Miller,  Moses  Gray  2d. 

1S12.     Nehemiah  Hinds;    Isreal  Conkey;    David  Conkey;    John  Conkey, 
Esq.,  Oliver  Smith,  Jesse  F.  Peck,  Jonathan  Richardson,  Dea.  R.  Sears. 

1813.  Isaac  Abercrombie;  John  Rankin,  Jr.;  Samuel  Clark;   Isaac  Aber- 
crombie, Henry  Kingman,  Daniel  Harkness,  Moses  Gray,  William  Miller. 

1814.  Isaac  Abercrombie ;  John  Rankin,  Jr.;  Samuel  Clark;  Henry  King- 
man, Jonathan  Packard,  Lemuel  Hall,  Capt.  M.  Gray,  Barna  Brigham. 

1815.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Esq.;    John   Rankin,  Jr.;    Samuel  Clark;  John 
Rankin,  Jr.,  Luther  Chapin,  Jesse  F.  Peck,  Moses  Gray  2d,  B.  Brigham. 

1816.  Isaac  Abercrombie;  Ithamar  Conkey ;  Samuel  Clark;  John  Rankin, 
Jr.,  Henry  Kingman;  John  Taylor,  David  Miller,  James  Crosett. 

1817.  Isaac  Abercrombie,  Esq.;    Ithamar    Conkey;    Samuel    Clark;    John 
Rankin,  Jr.,  J.  F.  Peck,  Lt.  L.  Chapin,  C'pt.  M.  Gray  2d,  Constant  Ruggles. 

1818.  Jesse  F.  Peck;  Ithamar  Conkey;  Samuel  Clark;  John  Rankin,  Jr., 
Lieut.  Luther  Chapin,  Jesse  F.  Peck,  M.  Gray  2d,  Barna  Brigham. 

1819.  Jesse  F.  Peck;  Abia  Southworth  ;  Samuel  Clark;  Henry  Kingman, 
Dr.  Abiah  Southworth,  John  Gray,  David  Miller,  Joseph  Pierce. 

1820.  Jesse  F.    Peck;    David    Abercrombie;   Abia   Southworth;    Samuel 
Clark,  Capt.  Oliver  Smith.  David  Conkey,  Jr.,  Moses  Gray,  B.  Brigham. 

1821.  Jesse  F.  Peck;  David  Abercrombie:  Dr.  Abia  Southworth;  Oliver 
Smith,  Jr.,  David  Conkey,  Jr., Daniel  Fales,  Barna  Brigham,  Josiah  Pierce. 

1S22.     Luther    Chapin;    David    Abercrombie;    Samuel    Clark,   Jr.;    Capt. 
Oliver  Smith,  David  Conkey,  Jr.,  Daniel  Fales. 


5o6  HrsiORY    OF    PELHAM,     MASS. 

1S23.     Lutlier   Chapin;    David   Abercrombie ;    Samuel   Clark,  Jr.;    Henry 
Kingman,  Lemuel  Hall,  Luther  Chapin. 

1824.  Lieut.    Luther   Chapin:    David   Abercrombie;    .Samuel    Clark.   Jr.; 
Capt.  Oliver  Smith,  Ezra  Brown,  Reuben  Westcott. 

1825.  Isaac  Abercrombie  ;   David  Abercrombie  ;  Reuben  Westcott ;  Oliver 
Smith,  Jr.,  Ezra  Brown,  Reuben  Westcott. 

1826.  Isaac  Abercrombie  ;   David  Abercrombie;   Martin  Kinginan  ;  Oliver 
Smith,  Jr.,  Ezra  Brown,  Reuben  Westcott. 

1827.  Isaac   Abercrombie;  Samuel   Clark,  Jr.:    Martin    Kingman:    Oliver 
Smith,  Esq.,  Ezra  Brown,  Reuben  Westcott. 

1828.  Isaac  .Abercrombie;  Samuel  Clark.  Jr.:  Samuel  Clark,  Jr.:  Ezra  Brown, 
Cyrus  Kingman,  Pliny   H annum. 

1829.  David  .Abercrombie;    Samuel  Clark,  Jr.:    Samu.-l  Clark,  Jr.;  Cyrus 
Kingman.  Ziba  Cook,  Rufus  Grout. 

1830.  Luther  Chapin  ;  Martin  Kingman:  Samuel  Clark.  Jr.:   Kufus  Grout, 
.Samuel  Clark,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Randall. 

1831.  Cyrus   Kingman:    Dr.    Daniel   Thompson;    Dr.    Daniel   'ihompson  ; 
Oliver  Smith,  Jr..  Reuben  Westcott,  David  Conkey. 

1S32.     Cyrus  Kingman;    Daniel  Thompson;    Daniel  Thompson;    Reuben 
Westcott,  Martin  Kingman,  Ezra  Brown. 

1833.  Cyrus  Kingman;  Cyrus  Kingman;  Cyrus   Kingman;  Oliver  Smith, 
Jr.,  Martin  Kingman,  Ezra  Brown. 

1834.  Dr.    Daniel  Thompson;    Cyrus    Kingman;    Cyrus    Kingman;    Ezra 
Brown,  Asahel  Aldrich,  Whipple  Cook. 

1835.  Cyrus  Kingman;    Cyrus  Kingman ;    Cyrus  Kingman:    Ezra   Brown, 
Rufus  Grout,  Luther  Chapin. 

1836.  Cyrus   Kingman;    Lemuel   C.   Wedge;    Lemuel   C.  Wedge;    Luther 
Chapin,  John  Harkness,  James  Thurston. 

1837.  Cyrus  Kingman;  Rufus  Grout;  Rufus  Grout;  Luther  Chapin,  Cyrus 
Kingman,  Joseph  Barrows. 

1838.  Col.  Cyrus  Kingman;   Rufus  Grout;  Rufus  Grout;   Luther  Chapin, 
Levi  B.  Hall,  Jared  T.  Westcott. 

1839.  Luther  Chapin ;  Asa  Thompson  ;  .Asa  Thompson  ;  Jared  T.  Westcott, 
Levi  Gates,  Cheney  Abbott. 

1840.  Martin  Kingman;   Calvin  D.   Eaton;   Calvin  D.  Eaton;   George  B. 
Pitman,  Nathaniel  Aldrich,  James  Thurston. 

1841.  David  Abercrombie;  Calvin  D.  Eaton;  Calvin  D.  Eaton;  George  B. 
Pitman,  N.  W.  Aldrich,  James  Thurston. 

1842.  David   .Abercrombie;    Calvin   D.    Eaton:    Calvin   D.   Eaton;    Cyrus 
Kingman,  Asahel  Aldrich,  James  Thurston. 

1843.  David  Abercrombie;    Calvin   D.   Eaton;    Calvin   D.   Eaton;  Cyrus 
Kingman,  Asahel  Aldrich,  Benjamin  Randall. 

1844.  Cyrus  Kingman;  Calvin  D.  Eaton;  Calvin   D.  Eaton;  Cyrus  King- 
man, Asahel  Aldrich,  Wyatt  Richardson. 

1845.  Cyrus  Kingman;    Lyman  Jenks;    Lyman  Jenks;    Cyrus    Kingman, 
Ziba  Cook,  John  T.  Thurston. 

1846.  Cyrus  Kingman;  Calvin   D.  Eaton;  Calvin  D.  Eaton;  Cyrus  King- 
man, Levi  B.  Hall,  Joel  Packard. 

1847.  Thomas  Buffum;  Calvin  D.  Eaton;  Calvin  D.  Eaton;  Levi  B.  Hall, 
Cheney  Abbott,  George  B.  Pitman. 

1848.  David  Abercrombie;    Calvin   D.    Eaton;  Calvin   D.  Eaton;    C.    D. 
Eaton,  Thomas  Thurston,  Austin  W.  Conkey. 


i\KK    TlIK    IJIXLAP    r.KooK. 


KiH    WATER    IN    THE    WEST    KRAXCH.    1S97.    VAN.STO.\E"s    iMlLL    AND   THE    BKIlJCiE. 


TOWN    OFFICERS. 


507 


1849.  Francis  King-man  ;  Francis  Kingman  ;  Francis  Kingman  :  Austin  W. 
Conkey,  Thomas  Thurston,  N.  W.  Aldrich. 

1850.  Cyrus  Kingman;  Lyman  Jenks,  Lyman  Jenks  ;  Austin  W.  Conkey. 
Ansel  A.  Rankin.  Philander  Bartlett. 

1851.  Monroe  Eaton  ;  Lyman  Jenks;  Lyman  Jenks;  C.  D.  Eaton,  N.  W. 
Aldrich.  David  Abercrombie. 

1852.  Monroe  Eaton;  William  Conkey;  William  Conkey;  N.  W.  Aldrich, 
Alonroe  Eaton,  Lemuel  H.  Newell. 

1S53.  Monroe  Eaton;  Erastus  P.  Boyden;  Erastus  P.  Boyden;  A.  A.  Ran- 
kin, Moses  L.  Ward,  Philo  D.  Winter. 

1854.  D.  Abercrombie  ;  E.  P.  Boyden;  E.  P.  Boyden;  A.  A.  Rankin,  P.  D. 
Winter,  Emery  Ballou. 

1855.  Alfred  Taylor;  Lyman  Jenks;  Lyman  Jenks;  Thomas  Thurston, 
N.  W.  Aldrich,  Philander  Bartlett. 

1856.  Alfred  Taylor;  Lyman  Jenks;  Lyman  Jenks;  Thomas  Thurston, 
P.  D.  Winter,  D.  Abercrombie. 

1857.  Philander  Bartlett;  Lyman  Jenks  ;  Lyman  Jenks  ;  T.  Thurston,  L  B. 
Barrows,  D.  Abercrombie. 

1858.  P.  Bartlett;  D.  Abercrombie  ;  D.  Abercrombie ;  C.  D.  Eaton,  M.  C. 
Grout,  Horace  Gray. 

1859.  P.  Bartlett;  David  Abercrombie;  David  Abercrombie;  Calvin  D. 
Eaton,  James  M.  Cowan,  Lemuel  H.  Newell. 

i860.     P.  Bartlett;  D.  Abercrombie;  D.  Abercrombie  ;  Lemuel  H.  Newell, 

James  M.  Cowan,  John  Jones. 
i86i.     P.  Bartlett;  C.D.Eaton;   C.  D.  Eaton;  James  M.  Cowan,  Warren 

Randall,  Asahel  Gates. 

1862.  P.  Bartlett;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  James  M.  Cowan,  L.  H. 
Newell,  P.  Bartlett. 

1863.  Alfred  Taylor;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  John  Jones,  Dexter 
Thompson,  Alfred  Taylor. 

1864.  S.  Jewett;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  John  Jones,  A.  Taylor,  D, 
Thompson. 

1865.  S.  Jewett;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  John  Jones,  Alfred  Taylor, 
A.  J.  Cadwell. 

1866.  S.  Jewett;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  John  Jones,  A.  Taylor,  P. 
Bartlett. 

1867.  Freeman  C.  Carver;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  Marcus  C.  Grout, 
A.  Firman,  A.  A.  Rankin. 

186S.  F.  C.  Carver;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  Marcus  C.  Grout,  Albert 
Firman,  A.  A.  Rankin. 

1S69.  S.  Jewett;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  M.  C.  Grout,  Sanford  Boy- 
den, A.  A.  Rankin. 

1870.  F.  C.  Carver;  C.  D.  Eaton;  C.  D.  Eaton;  Moses  L.  Ward,  Lewis 
Dodge,  Samuel  B.  Davis. 

1871.  F.  C.  Carver;  George  W.  Shepherd;  George  W.  Shepherd;  Moses 
L.  Ward,  T.  W.  Stratton,  S.  B.  Davis. 

1872.  F.  C.  Carver;  A.  C.  Keith;  A.  C.  Keith  ;  S.  Jewett.  T.  W.  Stratton, 
A.  C.  Randall. 

1873.  P.  Bartlett;  A.  C.  Keith;  A.  C.  Keith;  S.  Jewett,  T.  W.  Stratton, 
A.  C.  Randall. 

1874.  P.  Bartlett;  A.  C.  Keith  ;  A.  C.  Keith ;  S.  Jewett,  T.  W.  Stratton,  A. 
C.  Randall. 


5o8  HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 

1875.  John  Jones;    A.  C.  Keith;    A.  C.  Keith;  S.  Jewett,   James  Hanks, 
Israel  Taylor. 

1876.  John  Jones;  A.  C.  Keith;  A.  C.  Keith;  S.  Jewett,  James  Hanks,  T. 
W.  Stratton. 

1877.  John  Jones;  A.  C.   Keith;  A.  C.  Keith;   S.  Jewett,  T.  W.  Stratton, 
A.  C.  Randall. 

1878.  P.  Bartlett;  A.  C.  Keith;  A.  C.  Keith;    S.  Jewett,  T.  W.  Stratton, 
John  Jones. 

1879.  P.  Bartlett ;  A.  C.  Keith  ;  A.  C.  Keith  ;  S.  Jewett,  AI.  E.  Boynton,  D. 
Shores. 

1880.  S.  Jewett;    Adam  Cole;  Adam  Cole;  S.  Jewett,  Myrett  E.  Boynton. 
David  Shores. 

1881.  S.  Jewett;    Adam  Cole,    Adam   Cole;    S.  Jewett,   M.  E.   Boynton, 
Asahel  Gates. 

1882.  S.  Jewett;  John   L.   Brainard;  John  L.  Brainard  ;    S.  Jewett,  M.  E. 
Boynton,  A.  Gates. 

1883.  John  F.  Dyer;  Justin  W.  Keith;  Justin  W.   Keith;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E. 
Boynton,  A.  Gates. 

1884.  George  D.  Jones;  J.  W.  Keith  ;  J.  W.  Keith  ;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Boyn- 
ton, A.  Gates. 

1885.  G.  D.  Jones;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.   Keith;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Boynton, 
C.  B.  Shores. 

1886.  G.  D.  Jones;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.  Keith;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Boynton, 
Israel  Taylor. 

1887.  G.  D.  Jones;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.  Keith;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Boynton, 
Dwight  Presho. 

1888.  G.  D.  Jones;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.   Keith;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Boynton. 
Eugene  P.  Bartlett. 

1889.  Charles  B.  Shores;    J.   W.  Keith;    J.  W.  Keith;    S.  Jewett,  M.  E. 
Boynton,  H.  R.  Davidson. 

1890.  Charles  B.  Shores;    J.  W.  Keith;    J.  W.  Keith;    S.  Jewett,  M.  E. 
Boynton,  H.  R.  Davidson. 

1891.  John  A.  Page  ;  J.  W.  Keith ;  J.  W.  Keith  ;  S.  Jewett,  M.  E.  Boynton, 
H.  R.  Davidson. 

1892.  John  D.  Ward;  J.  W.   Keith;  J.  W.   Keith;  M.  E.  Boynton,  E.  P. 
Bartlett,  C.  E.  Humphrey. 

1893.  John  D.  Ward;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.   Keith,   M.  E.  Boynton,  C.  E. 
Humphrey,  John  L.  Brewer. 

1894.  lohn  D.  Ward;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.  Keith;  M.  E.  Boynton,  C.   E. 
Humphrey,  J.  L.  Brewer. 

1895.  John  D.  Ward;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.  Keith;   M.  E.  Boynton,  C.  E. 
Humphrey,  Henry  S.  Allen. 

1896.  John  D.  Ward;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.  Keith;  C.  E.  Humphrey,  H.  S. 
Allen,  J.  L.  Brewer. 

1897.  John  D.  Ward;  J.  W.  Keith  ;  J.  W.  Keith  ;  C.  E.  Humphrey,  Lysan- 
der  H.  Ward,  John  A.  Page. 

1898.  John  D.  Ward;  J.  W.  Keith;  J.  W.  Keith;   C.  E.  Humphrey,  John 
L.  Brewer,  C.  P.  Hanson. 


INDEX   TO    MEN. 


Abbott,  Charles  A  363 

Abbott,  Cheney  231,  232, 
239,  506 

Abbott,  John  3S7 

Abbott  Milo  237,  394, 
4S3 

Abbott,  Squire  167,  45S 

Abby,  Sabin  177 

Abercrombie,Abercrom- 
ney,  Abicromby,  Aber- 
crome,  Ebercrombie, 
Crombe,  etc. 

Abercrombie,  Andrew 
122,  i3r,  136,  140,  141, 
144,  145,  149'  15-'  160, 
161,  164,  169,  237,  250, 
264,  346.  34S,  387,  456, 
462,  490 

Abercrombie,  Asiel  439 

Abercrombie,  David  192, 
200,  231,  258,  348,  438, 
461,  502,  505,  506,  507 

Abercrombie,      General 

345 

Abercrombie,  George 
206 

Abercrombie,  Ira  192, 
43S,  439 

Abercrombie,  Isaac  171, 
174,  175,  ^n^  180,  181, 
1S2,  183,  185,  187,  190, 
191,  228,  229,  230,  231, 
237,  251,  252,  258,  266, 
387,  390,  437,  438,  439, 
460,  464,  474,  502,  504, 
505,  506 

Abercrombie,  James 
149,  177,  180,  181,  258, 
267,  268,  34S,  386,  390, 
438,457,  4S1,  502,  505 

Abercrombie,  James,  Jr. 
481 

Abercrombie,   John  434 

Abercrombie,  Otis  43S 

Abercrombie,  Robert, 
35>  45'  46,  47' 49' 62,  72, 
73,  78,  81, 112, 117, 180, 
261,  294,  295,  296.  297, 
298,  299,  300,  301,  302, 
303.  304,  305,  306,  307, 


308,309,310,  311,  312, 
313,314,315,  316,  317, 
318,319,320,  337,  339, 
344,  405,  425,  437,  449, 
468,473,  474,  492,493, 
494'  495 
Abercrombie,  Robert  2d 

387,  466 
Abercrombie,  Samuel 
■350,  352,  355'  43S'  459 
Abercrombie,     Stillman 

207,361 
Abercrombie,     William 

177,  467,474 
Adams,  Francis  461 
Adams,  Newton  433 
Adams,  O  W  290 
Adams,  Samuel  143 
Adams,  \V  H  290 
Airs,  Beunos  177,  230 
Akers,  Joseph   174,   175, 

237 
Akers,  William  468 
Albee,  Arba  461 
Alby,  Laben  271 
Alden,  Colonel  354 
Alden,  Howard  351 
Alden,  John  449 
Aldrich,  Asahel  271,  506 
Aldrich,  Charles  P  232, 

446 
Aldrich,  Martin  204 
Aldrich  Nathaniel  506 
Aldrich,  Olney  204 
Aldrich,  Tyler  D  204 
Aldrich,    Nehemiah    W 

199'  503'  506.  507 
Alexander,  James  17,  22, 

24,  26,  31,33.40,46,52, 

53,  79' Si,  84 
Alexander.  John  Jr  96 
Alexander,  John  17,  24, 

31,  39,46,  47.49,77,79, 

117,  124.  128,  29S,  346, 

457 
Allen,  David  H  204 
Allen,  George  W  363 
Allen,  Henry  S  233,  508 
Allen,  Jesse  271 
Allen,  Joseph  D.  361 


Allen,  Lewis  W  241,  242 
Allen,  Matthew  13,  17 
Allen,  Reuben  472 
Allen,  Samuel  Jr  458 
Ames,  Lewis  390 
Amherst,  Jeffry  344 
Amsdill,  Abner  387,  390 
Anderson,  James  R  233, 

497.  503 
Anderson,  John  104,  226, 

455 
Anderson,   Stephen  463 
Andrews,    Stephen   3S7, 

389 
Andross,  Stephen  177 
Anthony,  Mr  242 
Arms,  Levi  3S7 
Arnold,    Ephraim    i  7  7, 

460 
Arnold,  Samuel  176,  177, 

179,  180,  2S7,  291,  426 
Arnold,  Savannah  243 
Arnold.  Samuel  F.  204, 

206.  426,  476 
Arnold,  Smith  459 
Ashley,  Calvin  466 
Ashley,  William  251,  387, 

464 
Atkins,  Joseph  177.  273, 

505 
Atkinson,  John  353,  465 
Avery,  William  204 
Ayers,  William  Jedediah 

157 

Baker,  Elisha  459 
Baker,  Eseck  271 
Baker,  Ezekiel  169,  386, 

390 
Baker,  Eziar  351 
Baker,    Isaac    149,    280, 

38? 
Baker,    James   348.  350, 

35^'  Zll^  354'  355'  387, 

389 
Baker,  John  177,230,  239.. 

457 
Baker,  Jonathan  390 
Baker,  Lewis  387.  464 
Badlam,  Ezra  348 


34 


5IO 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Bailey,  Patrick  360,   477 
Bailey,  William  A  446 
Bailey,    Winthrop    i  8  6, 
188,  190,  191,  231,  269, 
270,  282,  2S3,  460,  462, 
502 
Balden,  William  149,  166 
Baldwin,  Elisha  390 
Baldwin,  Rev  321 
Baldwin,  Moses  272 
Baldwin,    William    177, 

352,355-387 
Ballard,  Jeremiah  122 
Ballard,  Joshua  177 
Ballou,  Emery  507 
Ballon,  Hiram  176,  199, 

213,492 
Ballou,  Leonard  356, 357, 

476 
Ballou.  Silas  461 
Ballou,  Stephen  178.  476 
Bancroft,  Ensign  351 
Bangliss.  Colonel  349 
Bannister,   Andrew    229 
Barber,   John    155,    227, 

229,  230,  387,  463.  504, 

505 
Barber,  Robert  19. 24,  27, 

31,454 
Bard,  Benjamin  467 
Bardwell,  L  A  290 
Bardwell,  William  290 
Barlow,  Eliakim  386 
Barlow,  Isaac  387,  465 
Barnard,  Salah  344 
Barnes,  Ansel  206 
Barnes,  Dexter  R  361 
Barnes,  Estus  204,  206 
Barnes,  James  346,  348 
Barnes,  Lauriston  364 
Barnum,  William  H  429 
Barrett,    Benjamin   415, 

422,  433 
Barrows,  Henry  204,  206, 

360 
Barrows,    Isaac    B    200, 

507 
]5arrows,  Joseph  357,502, 

506 
Barrows,    William    231, 

232,  256 
Barrus,  John,  157 
Barry,  Lockwood  466 
Barry,  William  2d  466 
Bartlett,  Alexander  460 
Bartlett,  Benjamin  463 
Bartlett,  Eugene  P  242. 

248,  446,  50S 


Bartlett,  Emerson  204 
Bartlett,  Joseph   F    358, 

364 
Bartlett,  Leander  L  242, 

446 
Bartlett,  Philander   203, 

206,  212,  507,  50S 
Barton,  A  S  204 
Barton,  Eliakim  390 
Barton,  Robert  461 
Bassett,  William  2S7 
Bates,  Laben  459 
Bay,  Andrew  124,  262 
Bayley,  Colonel  354 
Bayington,  Asa  178 
Bayington,  Ebenezer 

17S 
Bayington,  Silas  178.  206, 

230,^64 
Beckwith,  S  R  443 
Beecher,  H  W  430 
Beers,  Dr  259 
Belcher,  Jonathan  10 
Belew,  Ameriah  458 
Bell,  James  465 
Bent,  G  R  206.  290 
Bennett,  Isaac  346,  350, 

351,353,354-355 

Bennett,  Peter    129,  137 

Berry,  Barry 

Berry,     Alexander     146, 

160,  161,  169,   177,   iSo, 

227,  228,  229,  250,  251, 

271,  279,  280,  343,  346. 

504,  505 
Berry,  James  98,  100,  120, 

225,  405,  503 
Berry,  John  457,  467 
Berry,   William  271,  275, 

277,  279,  280,  349,  457, 

45^ 
Bigelow,  I  B  232,  290 
Bigelow  Rev  288 
Billings,  David  464 
Billings,  Charles  461 
Billings,  Elihu  251,  3S6 
Billings,  E  N  293 
Billings,  Isreal  342 
Billings,  Joel  373,  375 
Billings,  Mr  299,  300 
Black,  John  455 
Blackmar,  W  P  291 
Blackmer,  Barnabas  386 
Blackmer,  Frank  T  424 
Blackamore,   Amos  466 
Blair.  James  457 
Blair,  John  81,  85.  88.89. 

90.91,92,93.94,96,97, 


100,  loi,  120,  225,  305, 
^307,  343-  456 
Blair.  Robert,  88,  90,  91, 

92,97,  117 
Blair,  William   144.  348, 

463 
Bliss,  Colonel  143 
Bliss,  Zenas  285 
Blodgett,  Francis  A  359, 

364 
Blodgett,    Joseph,     275. 

276 
Boltwood,  John  463 
Boltwood,    Solomon  46, 

47,  410,  4" 
Boltwood.  William  115 
Boyden,  Erastus  P  507 
Boyden.     Sanford     204, 

206.  507 
Bosworth,  Lorenzo  290 
Bosworth,  William  459 
Bowdoin,  James  375,376, 

380,  381,  385,  3S7,  389, 

39S 
Boyc,  Samuel  463 
Boyd.  Rev  315 
Boyd,  William  8 
Boynton,  Joseph  E  361 
Boynton,  Mvrett  E  204. 

233-  255,  508 
Bradford,  William  412 
Bradstreet,  General  345 

447 
Brailey,   Collins  Si,   82, 

223,  243,  271,468 
Brailey,  John  243 
Brailey,  Solomon  177,270 
Brainard,  Elijah  266,  267, 

268 
Brainard.  Daniel  443 
Brainard.    John    L    232, 

233-  50S 
Bramble,   Franklin   204, 

360, 364 
Brand,  Amos  352,  355 
Breakenridge,  James  24, 

Brewer,  John  L  233,  247 
Brewer,  Jonathan  347 
Bridge,  Colonel  34S 
Bridge,  Jonas  462 
Briggs,  Charles  A  498 
Briggs,  Isaac  231 
Briggs,  Mr  239 
Briten,  Samuel  466 
Brigham,  Barnabas  177, 

230,  250,  25S,  459,  4S1, 

505 


INDEX    TO    MEN. 


511 


Brigham,    Liscomb    177, 

230,  252,  271 
Brooks,  John  457 
Brooks,  Thomas  465 
Brown,  Edward  352 
Brown,  Elam  3S7 
Brown,  Ezra  17S,  191,244, 

5S,  271,  460.  502,  506 
Brown,  Isaac  L  231 
Brown,  John  375 
Brown.  M  V  B  477 
Brown,  Matthew  18,  49, 

3S6, 456 
Brown,  Osborn   123 
Brown,  Perez  461 
Brown,  R  1S4 
Brown.  Robert  477 
Brown,  Walt  ham  129 
Brown,  William  17S.  454 
Bruce,  Abijah   260,  353, 

354 
Bruce,  James  466 
Bruce,  John  143, 14S,  151, 

152,  155,  159.  250,  251, 

386.  4S5,  504 
Bryant.  Amos  353 
Bryant,  Edwin  445 
Bryant,  Ichabod  177 
Bryant  tS:  Kingman  253 
Bryant,  Oliver  231,  253, 

416,  445 
Bryant,  Seth  466 
Bryant,  William  Cullen 

416 
Buck,  John  456 
Buffum,  George  244 
Buffum,  Myron  204 
Buffum.   Thomas     198, 

200,  203,  206,  245,  246, 

290,  440,  441,  479,  503, 

506 
Buffum  &  Ward  242 
Bullard,  Lieutenant  373 
Burgoyne,  General  409 
Burnap,  Erving  293 
Burns,  Rev  306,  317 
Burroughs,  Eden  336 
Burroughs,  Stephen   70, 

71,  156,  263,  321,  326, 

327,  32S,  329,  330,  331, 

332,  333i  334,  335>  33^, 

337,450,475 
Burt,  Rev  28S 
Butler,  Daniel  177 
Butler,  Moses  164 
Butterworth,  John  17S 


Cabbot,  Sebastian  C  27S, 

467 
Cadwell,    Artus    J    204, 

292 
Cadwell,  A  J  507 
Cadwell,  John  290,  291 
Caldwell,  Mr  46 
Calkins,  George  S  291 
Cambel,  Mr  117 
Campbell,  James  349,350, 

456 
Campbell,  William  455 
Cando,  William  353 
Canterbury,    Justin    W 

260 
Canterbury,  Nathan  285 
Canterbury,    Nathan    C 

204 
Capron,  Otis  17S 
Carpenter,  Daniel  178 
Carpenter,  Jason  462 
Caruth,  Samuel  Jr  459 
Carter,  John  231 
Carver,  Freeman  C  211, 

507 
Cary,  Lieutenant  351 
Cazier,  Matthias  272,273, 

274,  275,  276,  277,  278, 

280,  281,  489 
Chamberlain,    Freedom 

Chamberlain,  John  121 
Champion,  George  433, 

434 
Champlin,  Dennis  V  364 
Chandler,  Cornal  46 
Chandler,    John    17,    18, 


34,  35,  36,  37 
dler,  John  J r 


Cham 


13,  16, 

23,24, 


17,  19,  20,  21 

27,  28,33,47 
Chapin,  Alanson  191,199, 

231,  461, 4S1 
Chapin,  Calvin  239 
Chapin,  Chester  461 
Chapin,  Lemuel    R  204, 

2c6,  2S6 
Chapin,  Luther  206,  231, 

252,  286,481,  502,  505, 

506 
Chapin,  Rev  326,  333 
Chapman  Edwin  446 
Chapman,  Daniel  460 
Chapman,  G  E  291 
Charlton,  Dinnis  348 
Chase,  Agnostius  466 
Chase,  Judah  466 
Chase,  L  B  293 


Chatman,  Rev  271,  272, 

278 
Cheever,  Samuel  22S 
Chesterfield,  Lord  501 
Chenery,  Cyrus  435 
Chenery,  Isaac  435 
Child,  John  121 
Choate,  William  Jr  3S7, 

464,  504 
Church,  Ephraim  3S6 
Clapp,  Oliver  377,  378 
Clapp,  Timothy  387 
Clark,  Adam   17,  24,  31, 

162,  355,  386,  462,  502, 

504,  505 

Clark,  Chauncy  194 

Clark,  James  455 

Clark,  John  32,  52,  58,  59, 
78,  81,  83,  85,87.88.96, 
100,  104,  120,  225,  304, 
305,  455,  45S,  4S9 

Clark,  John  Jr  251 

Clark,  Matthew  137,  144, 
151,  152,  153,  155,  158, 
159,  164.  16S,  237,  355, 
367,  375,  3S6,  462,  504, 

Clark,  Robert  344,  345 

Clark,  Samuel   178,  267, 

505 
Clark,  Samuel  Jr  192, 461 

505,  506 

Clark,  Thomas  404,  405, 

407,  4S0 
Clark,  William   100,  117, 

455 
Clary,  David  465 
Clelland,  Thomas  390 
Clemens,  Curtis  117 
Cleveland,     Charles     R 

204,  359 
Clifford,  Daniel  P  177 
Clough,  Aaron  459 
Clough,  Orcutt  W  247 
Clough,  Warren  206 
Cluff,  Jonathan  456 
Coburn,  Captain  348 
Cochran,  John  34S 
Cochran,    Robert    344, 

455 
Cochran,  Thomas  86,  87, 
90,  98,  100,  103,  112,  117 
120,  124,  127,   128,  129, 
262,302,  305,  311,  343, 
503,  504 
Code,  Doctor  259 
Cole,  Adam  214,  508 
Cole,  John  250,  251,  254, 
3S7,  390,  465,  4S5 


512 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Coffin,  John  351 

Coles,  Ensign  John  16S 

Colton,  Alpheus375,  385 

Comstock,  WiHiam  204 

Coney,  OHver  352 

Conkey,    Alexander    73, 

77,  79,  81,   S3,  92,  99, 

100,  I II,  120,  121,  132, 

151,  178,  224,  226,  230, 

273,  298,  348,  387,  405, 

^454,  465,503>505 
Conkey,    Alexander    Jr 
S3,   84,    177,   230,   231, 
343.  348,  3^7,  456,  467, 
502 
Conkey,  Andrew  386,464 
Conkey,  Ansel  238 
Conkey,  Asa  250,  456 
Conkey,  Austin  W   239 

507  ' 
Conkey,  David  167,  169, 
170,  171,  172,  174,  17S, 
194,  227,  22S,  229,  237, 

386.  390,  456,  458,  4S0, 
504,  505,  506 

Conkey,  David  2d  178 
Conkey,    David    Jr    121, 

177,  178,230,505 
Conkey,  Elisha  178,  230, 

3S7,  463 
Conkey,  Ezkiel  352,387, 

390.  463 
Conkey,  Isaac  149,  178, 

252,  386,  457 
Conkey,  Isaac  A  468 
Conkey.  Isreal  173,  17S, 

230,  45S,  505 
Conkey,  Ithamar   11.  12, 

231,285,425,426.505 
Conkey,  Jacob  34S 
Conkev,   James,   79,   81, 

83,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89,  90, 

93,  106,   no,   177,  301, 

302,305,343,  351,  354, 

387,  454,  459 
Conkey,  James  Jr  387 
Conkey,   Joel    169,    273, 

458 

Conkev,  John  58,  59,  77. 
79,  S3,  84,  86,  87,  88,  89, 
90,  92,  93,  96,  97,  99, 
102,  no,  120,  145,  155, 
162,  163,  176,  178,  180, 
181,  224,  251,  252,  266, 
480,  490,  504, 505 

Conkey,  John  Jr  122,  149, 

178,  230,  250,  251,  258, 
426,  456,  462,  468,  480 


Conkey,  John  2d  460 
Conkey,  Major  John  466 
Conkey,  John  T  357 
Conkey,  Jonas  457 
Conkey,  Joshua  342,347, 

352,  403,  405,  406,  407, 
408,  410.  455,  463 

Conkey,  Reuben  178 
Conkey,  Robert  154,  238, 

353,  354  , 
Conkey,  Silas  347,  34S 
Conkey,    Thomas    i  7  7, 

229,  230,  239,  273,  387, 

390,  463.  489 
Conkey,  W  507 
Conkey,     Warren    i  7  8, 

255,459 
Conkey,  William  77,  79, 

83,84,87.88,90,92,93, 
95,  96,  97,  98,  99,  100, 
loi,  105,  III,  112,  117, 
122,  130,  169,  177,  226, 
227,  228,  229,  236,  237, 
238,239,249,  250,  251, 
255,  273,  352,  454,  480. 
482,483,484,  485,  491, 
503 
Conkey,  William  Hunter 

459 
Conkey  William  Jr  162, 
163,  176,  178,   180,  181, 
224,  271,354,  364,  387, 

391,  394,  457,  480,  504 
Conklin,  Henry  204 
Conkling,  Judge  445 
Conkling,  Roscoe   430, 

445 
Cook,  Aaron  204 
Cook,  Adams  178 
Cook,  Ammon  231 
Cook,  Daniel  362 
Cook,  D wight  M  445 
Cook,    Eseck    178,    179, 

180,  224,  287,  342,  356, 

357,  444,  475 
Cook,  Henry  204 
Cook,   James    17S,    232, 

467 
Cook,  Levi  459,  466 
Cook,  Lewis  461 
Cook,  Lucian  W  445 
Cook,  L  V  B  445 
Cook,  Marcus  D  445 
Cook,  Nathaniel  444 
Cook,  Nathaniel  H  208 
Cook,    Olney    198,    206, 

I      445 

i  Cook,  .Silas  178 


I  Cook,  Simon  231 
I  Cook,  James  M  242 

Cook,  Theodore   F  204, 
208,  238,  254,  487 

Cook,  Whipple  434,  461, 

502,  506 
Cook,  Zebina  461 
Cook,  Ziba  197,  206,  253, 

256,  287,  486,  502,  506 
Cooke,  E  Ward  444,  445 
Cooley,  Moses  456 
Cooley,  Obadiah  177,230 

231.  247,  248 
Cowan,  Ephraim  17,  24, 
26,  31,  32,  42,46,47,49, 
77,  79,81,82,85,87,  88, 
89,   117,   120,   223.   224, 
296,  29S,  300,  304,  305, 
442 
Cowan,  George  17,  24, 31, 
33,40,45,46,47,48,53, 
59,77,78,83,85,87,88, 
89,  90,  91,  93,   97,  98, 
112,  229,  298.  303,  305, 
310,442 
Cowan, George  Heirs  178 
Cowan  J  Edward  442 
Cowan,  James  93,  98,  99, 
112,  115,  120,   178,  229, 
343,351,387,  442,  463, 
468,  469.  503,  504 
Cowan,    James    Jr  3S7, 

389,  454 
Cowan,    James    M    203, 
204,  206,  238,  285,  2S6, 
441,  442,  507 
Cowan,  John  390 
Cowan,  Josiah  178 
Cowan,  Justus  390 
Cowan,  Samuel  442,  454 
Cowan,  Willard  17S 
Cowan,  Wni  273,  390,  464 
Cowden,  David  88,   89, 
93,   97,    100,    loi,    108, 
III,  112,  117,   119,  120, 
121,  122,  127,   129,   137, 
144,  145,  150,  225,  344, 
346,  347.  348,  354,  488, 

503,  504 

Cowden,  Jas  121,  387,  457 
Cowden,  John  347,  349 
Cowden,  Samuel  454 
Cowden,    William     121, 

457,  462 
Cowdine,  Thomas  344 
Cowing,  Ethanon  347 
Cowles,  Edwin  23S 
Cowles,  Mala  238 


INDEX    TO  MEN. 


513 


Crafts,  Colonel  34S 
Craig,  A  G  232,  259 
Crawford,  Isaac  355 
Crawford,  Joel  3S6,  389 
Crawford,   John  46,   47, 
56,  Si.  9S,  99,  100,   loi, 
III,  127,  129,  133,  141, 
146,  226,  227,  235,  262, 
348,  3S6,  454,  493,  503, 
504 
Crawford,  John  Jr  88 
Crawford,  John  and  Levi 

17S 
Crawford,  Levi  1S4,  229, 

230.  283.  458,  4S9 
Crosby  Joshua  2S2 
Crosby,  Judah  290 
Crosier,  Moses  462 
Crozier,  Arthur  343,  344 
Crozier,  John  106,  iii 
Crozier.  John  Jr  343 
Crossett,   Archibald   92, 
93,  97.  98,  109,  120,  121, 
280,  343.  503 
Crossett,  Ichabod  120 
Crossett,  Isreal  280,  464 
Crosett.  Jacob  456 
Crossett.  James  177,  355, 

460,  505 
Crossett,  John  348 
Crossett,     Robert,     177, 
228.  229,  247,  27s,  277, 
3S6,  390.  457.  504.  505, 
Crossett,  Samuel  352 
Crossett,  William  32,  42, 
46,47,  56,  77,  81,83,84, 
85,  Sj,  88,  89,  90,  91,  92, 
93.  95'  97.  9S,  99,  100, 

lOI,   I2C,    124,     128,    132, 
133,   141,   149,     150,    305, 

3io>  343,  34S,  457,  465, 

503,  504 
Cullom,  Shelby  .M  443 
Currier,  Samuel  461 
Curtis,  Oliver   178,   230, 

Curtis,  Robert  414 
Cushing.  J  75,  76 
Cushing,    Thomas    387, 

3'^S 
Cutler,  Anthony  464 
Cutler,  Robert  242 
Cutler.   Dr  Robert    141, 

226,  243.  258.  456 
Cutting,  Joel  208,  362 

Dane,  Frederick  R  204, 
208.  285.  361 


Dane.  John  2S5 
Danforth,  Ehjah  17S 
Daniels,  Joseph  424 
Daniels,  William  P  424 
Dansett,  Cato   352,  354, 

464 
Dart,  John  350 
Davenport,  Eisha  122 
Davis,  Albert  446 
Davis,    George    B    204, 

208,  446 
Davis,  Isaac  344 
Davis,  John  B  285 
Davis,  Moses  461 
"Davis,  Rev   Mr"   321, 


507 
Davis.  Seth  204,  497,  498 
Davidson,  John  117 
Davidson,     Herbert     R 

216,  233,  508 
Davidson,  Phinneas  178 
Day,  Captain  354 
Day,  Luke  385.  376,  398 
Dayton,  James  47 
Dean,  James  O  289,  290 
DeLancey,  Oliver  407 
Denio,  Frederick  462 
Dexter,  Benjamin  2S7 
Dick,  John  17,  19,  24,  27, 
28,  31,  40,  46,47.50,51, 
59,  63,  83,85,86,87,88, 
89,  90,  92,  93,  96,  97,  98, 
100,  loi.  III,  117,   119, 
120,  121,  122,  123,  124, 
127,  12S,  146,  216,  219, 
224,  297,  347,   454,  503, 
504 
Dick,  Thomas  17,  24,  31, 
48,50,51,52,53,54,55, 
56,  57,  5S,  59,60,61,62. 
63,64,65,66,81,83,84, 
85.  86,  87,  88.89,90,92, 
93.  94,  96,  98,  99,   lOI, 
112,  119,  120,   123,  124, 
219,  224,  227,  249,  251, 
-54-  297,  304,  305,  309, 
386,  457,  46S,  475,  482, 

503 
Dickinson,  Edward   201 
Dickinson,  Levi  463 
Dickinson,  Lieut  138 
Dickinson,  Mr  96 
Dickinson,  Rev  261 
Dickinson,  0!)ed  466 
Dickinson,  Obadiah  137, 

139 


Dickinson,  Reuben  34S, 

391 
Dillon,  Clyde  &  Co  429, 

.477 
Dillon,  Sidney  429,  475 
Dinsmore,  Abel  375 
Dix,  Benjamin  247 
Dockham,  W  H  291 
Dodge,  Daniel   17S,  467 
Dodge,  Ellison  260,  49S 
Dodge,  HolHs  204,  206, 

20S 
Dodge,  Isaac   164,   387, 

463 
Dodge,  J  O  290.  291 
Dodge,  Lewis   204,  206, 

507 
Dodge,    Nathaniel    178, 

204,  250,  260 
Dodge,  Samuel  B  204 
Donoley,  John  348 
Dowden,  William  H  206, 

232,  285,  286 
Downing,  E  238 
Downing.     William     B 

204,  206,  212,  285,  286 
Draper,  Learned  O  195, 

462 
Draper,  Lewis  178,  194, 

231,271,502,505 
Draper.    Lewis    L    253, 

255,  256 
Draper,  Lyman  461 
Draper,  Seth  466 
Dubois,  Peter  407 
Dunbar,  John  D  437 
Dunbar,  Josiah  136,  178, 

350 
Dunbar,  Nehemiah  349, 

350,  353,  464 
Dunbar,  Seth  45S 
Dunlap.  Alexander  S 
Dunlap,  Andrew  8,  419 
Dunlap,  James  8,  86,  98, 

120,  129,  130,   150,  166, 

178.  419.  456,  463.  504 
Dunlap,  Dr   James  419, 

420 
Dunlap,   John    178,    2S3, 

342,419.459 
Dunlap,  Robert  342 
Dunlap,  Thomas  8 
Dunlap.     William     136, 

140,  150,  151,  178,  228, 

267,  386,  419,  464,  504 
Dunning.  David  342 
Dwelly,  Aaron  178,  271 
Dwelly,  Prince  497 


5'4 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Dwight.  Elijah  351,355 
Dwight,  Joseph  342 
Dwight,  Timothy  46.  47, 

50,  56,  79,  80,  96,  166 
Dyer,  John  F  232,  233, 

258,  508 

Earle,  Edward  2S7 
Eaton,  Calvin  D  1 17,  202, 
203,  205,  206,  209,  213, 
231,232.  253,  254,  258, 
486,  503,  506,  507 
Eaton,  Darias  242 
Eaton,  Eliphaz  465 
Eaton,  Francis  284 
Eaton,    Francis    L 


443> 

444 
Eaton,    Heman    D    204, 

208 
Eaton,  Homer  446 
Eaton,  John  Jr  465 
Eaton,  M  M  443 
Eaton,  Alarston  176,  178, 

230,252,  254 
Eaton,  Monroe  198,  231, 

232.  443,  507 
Eaton,  Walter    17S,  252 
Eastwick     &     Harrison 

435 
Edgar,  John  87,  94,  ic6, 

3°3 
Edgar,  John  Jr  344 
Edgar,  William  112 
Eddy,  Rev  286 
Edson,  Abizer  131,  348, 

456 
Edson,     Benjamin    351, 

354 
Edson,  Ebijah  465 
Edson,  Jacob    141,    157, 

390,  504 
Edson,  Seth  178,  227,  230 

489, 505 
Edwards,  Jonathan    10, 

75,  297,  299,  300 
Eggleston,  Major  167 
r.liot,   George   164,   348, 

353' 3S7,  389 
Ellis,  Kufus  416 
Elot,  George  457  I 

Ellsbree,  Edmund  S  362  ' 
Engram,   Jonathan   3S6, 

390 
Engram.  Samuel  390 
Engram,  Timothy  3S7      j 
Esty,  J  L  290 
Everett,  Leonard  437        j 


!  Fairbanks,  Stephen  239, 

240 
Fales,  Abijah  206,  246 
Fales,  Daniel  505 
Fales.  James  204 
Fales,  John  T  208,  446 
Fales,  Sewal  178 
Fales,  Madison  L  364 
Fales,  Norman  S  364 
Fales.  William  B  364 
Fay,  Mr  203 
Faye,  I5arnabas  463 
Fellows,  John  348 
Felton,  John  466,  488 
Felton   &    Conkey,   177, 

180,  238 
Felton,  Nathan  177,  230, 

238,250,251,  252,  254, 

466,  505 
Fergerson,  Archibald  458 
Fergerson,  James  93,  94, 

97, 99, 100, 104, 1 17, 225, 

297,341,347-454 
Fergerson,  John   17,  24, 

3i>  37,  39<  46,47,  87>  91, 

92,  93,  95'  97,  98,  99, 

100,  218,  249,  297,  491 
Fergerson,   Robert   100, 

297 
Fergerson,    Samuel    51, 

100,  297 
Fergerson,  Thomas  363 
Fergerson.   William   87, 

92,  97,  98,  100,  lOI,  III, 

117,  119,  120,  128,  296, 

346,  456 
Fenton,  Samuel  387 
Field,  Jonathan  458,  465  { 
Field,  Milo  W  204,  206, 

232,  285 
Field.  Seth  466 
Fields,  Esquire  171 
Finton.  Samuel  456 
Firman.  Albert  206,  291, 

292, 507 
Firman,  Erlon  G  204 
Firman,  Gilbert   H  204, 

208 
Fish,  Cummings  231 
P^ish,  Lewis  B  232 
Fish,  Rev  272,  278 
Fish,  Stephen  386 
Fish.  Jabez  349 
Fisher,  Jabez  Pond  264, 

265,  272,  278 
Fisher,  Thomas  360,  466 
Fisk,  Asa  375 
Fisk,  Franklm  290 


[  Fletcher.  Abel  232 
Fletcher.  Solomon  247 
Follett.  -A.braham  459 

j  Foot,  Obed  375 
Forbs.  James  465 

j  Forward,  Rev  326,  333 
Foster,   Edward.  Jr  464 
Foster.  Lieut  122 
Foster,  Seth  465 
Fowler,  Captain  350 
Freeman,  Mr  265 
Freker,  Philip  456 
Fuller,  Thomas  3S7 
Fulton,  Moses  457 

Gamble,  J  H  286 
Ganson,  Joseph  Ti^2'  354 
Gardner,  George  A  208, 

363 
Gardner.  John  475 
Gaskill.  Chester  198,  199, 

231,  232,  256,  271 
Gaskell.  Lelibeus  444 
Gaskell.  William  178,444 
Gates,  Asahel  204,  206, 

232,  233,  503.  507.  50S 
Gates,  Ebenezer  458 
Gates,  General  347 
Gates,  Levi  506 
Gaylord.  Flavel  247 
Gaylord.  J  H  290 
Gibbs,  Abraham  488 
Gibbs,  Warren  478 
Gibbs.  William  478 
Gilbert.  Simeon  363 
Gillespie,  George  71 
Gilmore,  David  347 
Gilmore,  George  454 
Gilmore,  James  8,  17,  24, 

31,  32.33,47,50,81,83, 
84.  86,  87,  88,  121,   127, 

226,296.455,457 
Gilmore,  James  J r  38,  46, 

47,83.  297.305,  34S 
Gilmore,  John  297 
Gilmore.  Robert  342, 344, 

4ix,455 
Gilmore,  William  86,  88, 

104,  110,   120,  221,  343 
Gitte.  Robert  458 
Gittee.  John  457 
Goddard,  David  J r  193 
Gold.  Levi   W  204.  2c6, 

208.  478 
Gold,  Martin  D  256 
Gold,  Minor  200, 202,206, 

231,  232.  239,  258,  444 
Gold,  Theodore  204 


INDEX    TO    MEN. 


515 


Goodell,  Abner  192 
Goodman,  Major  396 
Goodman,  Noah  143,  350 
Goodrich,  J  A  293 
Gordon,  William  289 
Gould,  Aaron  457 
Gould,  Gardner  34S 
Gould,  Haffield  178,230, 

467 
Gould,  Jared  257 
Gray,    Aaron    iii,    117, 
145,  150.  15-'  279,  2S0, 
387,  458,  465.  504 
Gray,  Adam  344 
Gray,  Adam  Clark  137, 

13S,  139,  344,  432 
Gray,  Amos  349,  475 
Gray,  Andrew  459,  466 
Gray,  Barber  387 
Gray,  Calvin  D  204,  206, 

20S,  241.  242 
Gray,  Chester  231,461 
Gray,  CoUester  45S,  466 
Gray,  David.  466 
Gray,  Daniel  59,  88,  89, 
90,91,  92,  93' 95-96,  97, 
99,  112,   118,   120,   128, 
129,  131,  134,  135,  136, 
144,  145,  148,  150,  151, 
271,272,273,  277,  279, 
280,  343,  355,  368,  369, 
388,432,455,  481,  503, 
504 
Gray,  Daniel  Car  45S 
Gray,  Ebenezer  63,  122, 
128,  129,  145,  151,  155, 
159,  161,  162,  166,  170, 
179,  229,  238,  251,  258, 
264,  266,  26S,  2S3,  321, 
325,  336,  346,  354,  386, 
390,431.432,  455,  463, 

475,  504,  505 
Gray,  Ebenezer  Jr  458 
Gray,Ebenezer  and  John 

178 
Gray,  Edwin  P  431 
Gray,  Eli  46S 
Gray,  Elihu  465 
Gray,  Elliot  130, 131,  179, 

228,230,  269,  271,  344, 

355,  387,  390,  432,  489 
Gray,  Eliot  2d  390,  464 
Gray,  Elisha  390 
Gray,  George  D  431 
Gray,  Giles  H  431 
Gray,  Henry  M  431 
Gray,  Hinckley  R  431 


Gray,  Horace  206,  232, 
241,247,  258,  290,  355, 
431,479.507 

Gray,  Hugh  29,32,  77,  79 
297 

Gray,  Ira  431 

Gray,  Isaac  99,  loi,  107, 
III,  112,  120,  131,  140, 
141,  142,  151,  310,  343, 
347,  348,  454,  481,  488, 
503,  504 

Gray,  Jacob  386,  432,  457 

Gray,  James  475 

Gray,  Jeremiah  177,  280, 
281,  3S7,  465 

Gray,  Johns,  24,  31,  33, 

34,37,39,42,43,44,45, 
46,47,48,51,62,63,77, 
79,81,84,85,89,94,95, 

97,  98,  99,  loi,  106,  1x0, 
117,  118,  120,  178,  179, 
230,  231,  246,  298,  302, 
303,  341,  405,  406,  40S, 

465,  475 
Gray,  John  Jr  17,  99,  112, 

120,  274,  2S3,  343,  454, 

505 
Gray,  John  3d  466 
Gray,  Lieut  John  468 
Gray,    "Cooper"    John 

284,  355,  431 
Gray,    "  Tanner "'    John 

247,  283,  426 

431,432 
Gray,  Joel  280.  387,  432, 

464,  504 
Gray,  Jonathan  90. 97, 98, 

103,  120,  130,  262,  343, 

3S6,  432,  456,  489,  504 
Gray,  Joseph  350,  351 
Gray,  Joshua  117 
Gray,  Justin  432 
Gray,  Justus  465 
Gray,  Lamond  160,  271, 

^351,457 

Gray,  Levi  169,  342,  466 

Gray,  Matthew  31,  32,34, 

37,  38,  39,40,51,46,47, 
55,77,78,81,83,85,94, 

98,  102,  112,  117,  120, 
137,  138,  139,  226,  235, 
298,  300,  302,  303.  342, 
387,  432,  455,  457,  464, 
504 

Gray,  Matthew  Jr  16,  24, 

387 
Gray,  Matthew  3d  464 


Gray,  Moses  59.  117,  229, 

230,  279.  2S0,  280,  465, 

502,  505 
Gray,  Moses  2d  177,  231, 

432,  505 
Gray,  Nathaniel  81,  355, 

430,431,432,  456,  466, 

475,  490 

Gray,  Patrick  177,  3S7, 
432,  45S,  463,  466 

Gray,  Patrick  Jr  177,  467 

Gray,  Robert  348 

Gray,  Samuel  17,  19,  21, 
24,  26,  36,38,40,41,45, 
46,47,48,49,52,53,77, 
79,  81,  82,  S3,  84,  209, 
223,  296 

Gray,  Thomas  273,  275, 
381,  432,  463 

Gray  &  Son  242 

Gray,  William  34,  38, 39, 
40,  41,  42,43,44,45,46, 
47,48,49,  50,52,53,77, 
79,  Si,  82,  84,  87,  no, 
III,  117,  120,  121,  122, 
218,223,303,  307,  344, 

347 
Gray,  William  Jr  17,  24, 

31,32,  86 
Gray,  William  ist  87,  302 
Gray,  William  3d  8^,  85, 

86,  303,  305 
Gray,  William  D  431 
Graham,  John  299,  300 
Graham,      Richard 

Crouch  62, 116, 117,  iiS 

123,  124,  128,   131,  261, 

262,  310,  320,  337,  406, 

451,469,473 
Granger.  Berthiah  H  465 
Grant,  U  S  430,  435 
Graves,  Elisha  468 
Graves,  Martin  441 
Graves,  Stephen  458,  466 
Green,  David  347 
Green,  John  177 
Greenwood,  Daniel  178 
Gridley,  Colonel  348 
Griffin,  Charles  359,  364 
Griffin,  David  178.  459 
Griffin,  George  A  359 
Griffin,  Jonathan  178 
Griffin,  Otis  204 
Griffin,  Otis  B  359 
Grout,  Albert  A  204,  285 
Grout,  Aldin  433,  434 
Grout,  Austin  434 


HISTORY    OF    PELHA.M,     MASS. 


Grout,  Joel  17S,  229.  230, 

433,  434.  505 
Grout,  Josiah  434 
Grout,    Marcus    C    204, 

206,  238,  446.  503,  507 
Grout,  Martin  434 
Grout,  Orra  434 
Grout,  Rufus  196, 199,200 

231.  232.  290,  434,  479, 

503,  506 

Grover,  Frederick  364 
Grover,  Thomas  370.  372 
Grover,  Thomas  373 

Racket,  George  351,  352, 

3S7,  390 
Hacket,  Gideon  3S7,  45S 
Racket,  John  352,  355 
Ralbert,  James  107,  no, 

115,  iiS,  12S,  129,  262, 

343,  344,  349-  455,  503, 
Ralbert,  John  344,455 
Rail  Charles  O  446 
Rail,  John  B  231.  446 
Rail,   Lemuel    179,   230, 

505,  506 
Rail,  Lemuel  W  446 
Hall,  Levi  245,  246 
Rail.  Levi  B  478.  506 
Rail,  Levi  D  446 
Rail.  Seth  B  446 
Hamilton,  Andrew  120 
Hamilton,  Eli  464 
Hamilton,  Ephraim  455 
Hamilton,  Frank  456 
Hamilton,  Henry  C  446 
Hamilton,  James  88,  94, 

343,  344,  454,  455 
Hamilton,  Isaac  177, 460 
Hamilton,  Joel  460 
Hamilton,  John 42, 49,77, 
79,  81,85.86,87,89.99, 
117,  127,  129,  131,  141, 
151,  160,  161,  303,  305, 
343,  344,  347,  348,  349, 
350,  352,  355,  3^7,  455, 
504 
Hamilton.  John   Jr   112, 

271,  279,  3S9.  464 
Hamilton,    Joseph    150, 
158,  159,  177,  206,  228, 
264,  387.  456,  460,  461, 

504.  505 
Hamilton,  Joseph  W  175 

^52.505 
Hamilton,  Oliver  177.231 
2S3. 466 


Hamilton,  Robert  94,  96, 
1 19,  121,  124,  127,  128, 
262,  344,  454,  455,  488, 

503,  504 
Hamilton,  Robert  Jr  343 
Hamilton,    Thomas    77, 

79.  83.  86.  89,92,93,98, 

99,  107,  III,   120,   125, 

302,  303, 348 
Hamilton,    Thomas     Jr 

105,455 
Hancock,  Jolin   143,  389 
Handy,  Charles  350,  355 
Hanks,  Benjamin  463 
Hanks,  James  232,  233, 

257,50s 
Hanks,  Warner  204,  257 
Ranks,  Ziza  204,  291,  292 
Rannum,  David  179,  230. 

251,260,268 
Hannum,  Grove  W  200, 

231,  357,461 
Hannum,  Henry  357 
Hannum,  Pliny  179,  230, 

290,  460,  476,  506 
Rannum,  Sidney  357 
Rannum,  William  204 
Hanson,    C   P   3S5,   448, 

50S 
Rarkness,    Daniel    179, 

228.387.421,  459,  463, 

505 
Rarkness,  Daniel  Jr  389 
Rarkness.     David      179 

227,  268. 3S7,  421,  457, 

475,  4S8 
Rarkness,  H  W  42 1,422, 

423-  479 
Rarkness,  Henry  423 
Rarkness.  James  94.  97, 
98,  99,    .00,    loi,    107, 
113,  117,  120,   124,   128, 
343,  346,  349,  355,  406, 
421,  454-  45S,  463,  503 
Rarkness,  Joel  177 
Rarkness.  John  121,  150, 
154,  161,  167,   179,   187, 
229.  246,  247,  264.  352, 
355,  387-  421.  463-  489, 
497 
Rarkness.  John  Jr  268. 
467 
I  Harkness,  John  2d  3S6. 

3S9.  463,  506 
I  Harkness.  Jonathan  421, 
I      464 

j  Harkness.  ALartin  K  423 
1  Rarkness,  Sumner  J  424 


Harkness,  William  56, 
93.97.99.  101,111,  112, 
117,  120,  128,  130,  228, 
231,  246,  420,  421,  454, 
463,  497,  504 

Harkness,    William     Jr 

457,461,479 
Rarkness,    Lt    William 

475 
Harlow,     Thomas     177, 

259,  3^7-  355-  465 
Harris.  W  J  244,  256 
Haward.  Elihu  464 
Rase,  Jeremiah  464 
Haskell.  David  457 
Haskell.  Eli  460 
Haskell,  Jeremiah  270 
Raskins.  James  243 
Raskins.  John  346 
Raskins,    William     347, 

348-  353 
Hatch,  Hach 
Hatch,   Harris   172.   173, 

174,  230,  251.  252.  256, 

485 
Hathaway.  Jonathan  177 
Hathaway.  Samuel  347 
Hat  hey.  Samuel  457 
Hawlev,   Joseph  55,   59, 

61,62 
Hayes,     Haze,     H  ase, 

H  ays 
Rays,  David  389 
Hays,  Savanna  387 
Hays,  William  347,  387 
Hayden,  Haden 
Hayden,  Richard  463 
Hayden.     Thomas     177, 

230 
Hayden.  Thomas  Jr  231 
Hayward.    H  e  y  w  o  o  d. 

Haward 
Hayward,   Ichabod  3S7, 

465 
Heywood,  Daniel  19.  20, 

23,  26,  28,  34.  218 
Hazelton,  Colonel  373 
Heed.  Herman  232,  259, 

4S7 
Heirs.  David  457 
Remmenway,  H  a  r  d  i  n, 

Rench,  John  464 
Henry.  Joseph  456 
Henry.  "William  455 
Herrick,  E  P  291 
Herroen.  Oliver  464 
Rewes,  George  290 


INDEX    TO    MEN. 


517 


Hildreth,     Russell     204, 

206, 2S5 
Hill,  Alvan46S 
Hill.  AiLsel  260 
Hill.  Emerson  2SS 
Hill.  James  346.  349- 35 1> 

353 
Hill,  Lucian  204,  206 
Hill,  Otis  B  360 
Hill,  Samuel  375 
Hills,  Elijah  255 
Hills,  H  F  238 
Hills,  L  M  23S,  255,  286, 

441 
Hincks.  Huncks 
Hinncks,  John  456 
Hincks.  Thomas  249 
Hinds,  Hynds 
Hinds,  John  48 1 
Hinds,  Joseph  375,  457 
Hinds,    Nehemiah    14S, 
150,  151,  152,  159,  162, 
166,  169,  171,  172,  173, 
174,  177,  i8o>  237,  250, 
251,  252,  259,  271,  274. 
275,  276,  277,  328,  329, 
335»  337,  382,  392,  456, 
481,  485,  504,  505 
Hinds,  Nehemiah  Jr  4S1 
Hoar,  H on- 
Hoar,  Calvin  177 
Hoar,  John  177,  23S,  239 
Horr,  Charles  H  360 
Horr,  Elbridge  F  204 
Horr,    Harrison    L    204, 

359 
Hobby.  C  H  232 
Holbrook,  Daniel  477 
Holcomb,  Charles  A  260 
Holland,  Hollan 
Holland,  Elihu  464 
Holland,  Hugh  112,  386, 

504 
Holland,  Oliver  456 
Holland,    Reuben    350, 

463 
Holly,  Samuel  387 
Holt.  Thomas  275,  276 
Holt,  William  238 
Hood,  James  17,  24,  31, 

33.46,  77,  83,  106,  no, 

120,  343,  468 
Hood,  John  346,385.390, 

454.  505      , 
Hood,  Jonathan  121, 135, 

145.  150,  170,  179,  180, 

226,  227,  386,  456,  504, 

505 


Hooker,  Benjamin   171 
Hopkins,  Mr  46.  47 
Houston,  Huston,   Hus- 

ten 
Houston,  David  56,  60, 

62.  Ill,    120,   166,  177, 

225,  387,  463,  465 
Houston,  John  96,  261, 

454 
Houston,  John  O  461 
Houston,  Osmyn  446 
Houston.    Robert,     177, 

227,  228,  386.  457,  505 
How,  Samuel  350 
Howard,  A  A  291 
Howard,  Joseph  179,271, 

466 
Howard,  Labbeus  251 
Howard.  Rev  2S5 
Hoyt,  Epaphras  439 
Hubbard,  F  92 
Hubbard.  Giles  430 
Hudson,  George  291 
Hughes,  James  73,  232, 

405 
Hulet,  Joseph  463 
Humphrey,    Charles    E 

233. 50S 
Hunt,  Alden  177 
Hunt,  David  415 
Hunt,  Gilbert  G  204,  285 
Hunt,  John  461 
Hunt,  Joseph  R  204,  206, 

2S5,  364 
Hunt.  Obed  464 
Hunt.  William  457 
Hunter,   Isaac  341,  343. 

344.  455 
Hunter.     Isaac     Cowan 

458 
Hunter.  James  3S7,  455, 

460,  490 
Hunter,  John  87,  89,  99, 

100,  119,  120,  224,  226, 

302,  390,  488 
Hunter,  Joseph  463 
Hunter,  Wilkins  177,  180 
Hunter,  William  226,346, 

466 
Huntington,  Joseph  325. 

326,  333 
Huntington,  Judge  416 
Hyde,  Andrew  168,  175 

'176,  179,  181.  182,  243. 

390,  465,  505 
Hyde,  Chester  462 
Hyde.   James    177,    268, 

387,  464 


Hyde,  Samuel  121,  136, 
141,  145,  150,  151,  152, 
153,  154,  155,  160,  16S, 
176,  179,  199,  455,  458, 
465,  481,  491,  492,  504 
Hyndmand,  Samuel  408 
Hyslop,  William  437 

Ide,  David  467 

Ingram,  Engram,  Ingra- 

ham 
Ingram,    Timothy     12S, 

456 
Ingraham,  Gideon  458 
Ingraham,  Jonathan  351, 

464 
Ingraham,  Nathaniel 

231,  259  .   ,        , 

Jackson,  Jeremiah  128 
James,  Darwin  R  430 
James,  Frederick  284 
Janes,  Stephen  177 
Jenison,  William   18,  21, 

Jeiiks,  Charles  H  20S 

Jenks.  L  F  446 

Jenks,   Lyman    199,   206, 

255.  285,  506,  507 
Jenkins,  J  L  293 
Jennings,    Roswell    177, 

230 
Jewett,  Ansel  217 
Jewett,  Aaron  375 
Jewett,  Benjamen  229 
Jewett,  Jedediah  464 
Jewett,    Sylvester    202, 

204,  206,  209,  213,  214, 

216,  217,  232,  233,  503, 

507,508 
Jillson,  Gillson,  Jilson 
Jillson,  Amasa  241,  357 
Jillson.  Manley  358 
Jillson,  Nathan  178,  180, 

240,  271.  489 
Jillson,    Nathan   Jr    178, 

489 
Jillson,    Riley    241.    242, 

247,  489 
Johannet  &  Seaver  484, 

485 
Johnson,  Jonson 
Johnson.  Aaron  271 
Johnson,  Adam    17,   24, 
31.   88,    177.   19K    386, 
390,  426,  427,  428,  475, 

495 
Johnson,  Andrew  459 
Johnson,  David  344 


5^8 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Johnson,  Earl  462 

Johnson,  George  476, 477 

Johnson,  Lt  George  477 

Johnson,   Hugh    60,    90, 

94,99, 100, 104, 112, 117, 

120,  121,  122,  128,  130, 

132.  Ij5>  136,  137,  140. 

141,  144,  149)  150.  15I' 

310-  343,  349,  3S6 

Johnson.  James  96,   98, 

302,  305 
Johnson,  Joel  467 
Johnson,  John  17,  24,  31, 
33,47,48,53,77,  79,86, 
87,  88,  89,  93,  96,   304, 
305,  343,  3S6 
Johnson,  Rev  40,  78 
Johnson,  Silas  230 
Johnson,  Thomas  59,  85, 
89,  90,  91,  92,  94,  97, 
loi,  104,  120,  122,  124, 
137,    141,      150,      151, 
225,  343,  346,  3%  427, 
428,502.503,504 
Johnson,  William  8,  19, 
24,  28,  31,  240,  242,  3S6 
Johnston,  Jonston,  Jon- 
son 
Johnston,  Andrew  466 
Johnston,   Hugh   61,   62, 
63,  64,  65,  i5'5,  15S,  159, 
236.  237,  264,  390,  503, 
504 
Johnston,    Hugh    Moor 
.  465 

Johnston,  James  46,  3S9 
Johnston,    John    45,    46, 
^  48.  53.  457 
Johnston,  Joseph  390 
Johnston,  Moors  389 
Johnston,  Robert  463 
Johnston.  Silas  178 
Johnston,  Stephen  271 
Johnston,    Thomas    55, 
58,   59,    152,    155,    156, 
159,  348,  465 
Johnston,    William    390, 

490 
Jones,  Joans 
Joans,  James  465 
Jones,  George  D  50S 
Jones,  H  A  291 
Jones,  John  207,  208,  209. 
212,  232,  233,  258,  290, 
421,  503,  507.  50S 
Jones,  William  364 
Joslin,  Josline,  Joslyn 
Joslin,  Joseph  177 


Joslin,  Samuel  505 
Josline,  Samuel  173 
Judd,  Sylvester  248 

Keep,  Chelles  252 
Keep,  Noble  467 
Keith.  Keath,  Kith 
Keith.  Ariel  C  213,  258, 

507,  50S 
Keith,    Caleb    144,    145, 

146,  147,  148,  149,  150, 

151,  159,  160,  162,  226, 

227,367.504 
Keith,  Justm  VV  215,  216, 

258,  486,  508 
Keith,  Cries  3S6 
Kelley,  John  347,  34S 
Kelley,    Wing    178,   230, 

505 
Kellogg,  Killogg,  Kelog 
Kellogg,  Giles  C  194 
Kellogg.  Horace  201 
Kelog,  Jels  Creach  12S 
Kellogg,  John  346 
Kellogg,  Uea  John  425 
Killogg,    Jonathan    169, 
,463 

Kellogg,  Ralph  253 
Keruth,  Samuel  464 
Kid,  Benjamin  456 
Kid,  Charles  456 
Kim.  James  387 
Kimball,  Charles  204 
Kimball,  .Mr  246 
Kimball.  Otis  360 
Kimball.     Samuel     206, 

467 
Kimball,  William  O  249, 

363 
King,    Albigence    231, 

259 
King,    James    229,    3S6, 

457, 504 
King,  Peter  178, 350,  351, 

352,  355,  387,  463 
King,  Robert  86, 297, 344, 

45S,  488 
King,  Rufus  P  204 
King.  Starling  386,  462 
Kingman,  Cyrus  191,192, 

193,  194,231,  255,  258, 

461,502.507 
Kingman,    Francis    446, 

507 
Kingman,     Henry     178, 

179,  181,  183,  184,  187, 

189,  190,  192,  230,  231, 


258,460,486.  502,  505, 

506 
Kingman,     Martin     1S9, 

190,  191,  192,    194,   196, 

231,  251.253,  254,  255, 

506 
Kingman,  Matthew   286 
Kingman  &:  Packard  254 
Knight,  George  W  204, 

291,477 
Knight,  John  W  233 
Knight,  Philander  S  206, 

291,292 
Knight,  William  177 
Knowlton,  Rozel  467 
Knowles  &  Thayer  4S6 
Conkey,  M  c  C  o  n  k  e  y, 

Conky,       jMcKonkey, 

Konky 
Konkey,   Alexander  45, 

46,47 
Konkey,  Alexander  Jr  46 
Konkey,  James  48,51,  52 
Konky,  John  45,  46,  47, 

50 
Konky,  William  46,  47 
Kundy,  Charles  352 
Lamb,  Joseph  353,  354 

I  Lammon,  Francis  408 

!  Latham,  Francis  204,  206 

j  Latham,  James  16S,  387 

;  Latham,  Joseph  463 
Latham,  O  S  204,  206 
Lathrop,  Alden  449 

'  Lathrop,  Sylvanus  449 

!  Lawson,  John  456 
Lawson.  William  457 

!  Lazell,  Isaac  460 

I  Leach.  Jonathan  178,264, 

I      3S6,  457,  465 
Leach,  Marvelous  178 
Leach,  Morrell  466 
Leach,  Timothy  459 
Learned,  Josiah  460 
Lee,  Ezra  283 
Lee,  Henry  390 
Lee.  John  W  290 

j  Lelaiid.  Gillett  and  Gil- 

I      bert  238 

i  Leonard,  Amos  D  361 

I  Lesure.  Jesse  206 
Lewis,  Enoch  T  445 

i  Lewis.  James  461 
Lewis,  Joseph  W  290 
Lewis.  William  459 
Lincoln,   Benjamin   376, 
377,  37S,  379,  3S0,  381, 
382,  3S3,  384,  398 


INDEX    TO    MEN. 


519 


Lincoln,  Abraham  417 
Lincoln,  Isaac  17S 
Lincoln,  Luther  357 
Lincoln,  Samuel  J  46S 
Linds,  Thomas  362 
Lindsay,  Linsey,  Linsley 
Lindley,  David  433 
Lindsey,  George  465 
Lindsey,  James  250,  251, 

277,  2S0,  464 
Lindsey,  John   109,    no, 

120,271,279,343,  455 
Lindsey,  Stacy  231,  252 
Lindsey,  William  86,  98, 

2S0,  281,  464 
Little,  Joseph  229 
Lyskam,    Liscome,    Lis- 

kam 
Liscom,  Ebenezer  3S6 
Liskam,  Ebenezer  226 
Lyskem,  Ebenezer  466 
Livermore,  Abraham 

132.  152,35^.  355.  490. 

504 
Lockwood,  Alfred  293 
Logan.  Major  435 
Long,  Edward  408 
Loomis,  Curtis  250 
Lord,  Absalom  461 
Lotheridge,  'Lotheredge, 

Lotridge,  Latridge 
Lotheredge,  John  459 
Lotheridge,  Reuben  135, 

140,  142,  151,  173,  386, 

456 
Lotheridge,    Robert    17, 

19,  21,24,26,31,36,38, 

42,46,52,53.54,55,56, 

58,  77,  79,81,83,90,99, 

loi,  168,  173,  225.  305, 

342,  343>  45S 
Lovett,  Murray  B  364 
Lovett,  Sanford  M  204, 

Lowden,  Thomas  17,  24, 

31,  90.  99,  102,  no,  118, 

30-»  303 
Lucore,  John  77,  87,  90, 

120.  235,  303 
Luddmgton,  David 
Lumbard,  Abial  230 
Lyman,  John  245 
Lyman,  Oliver  349 
Lyman,  Otis  S  446 
Lyman,  Payson  \V  293 
Lyon,  Asaph  251 
Lysander  330,  331,  332, 

333i  334?  33Sj  33° 


Macomber,  George  178 

26S,  459 
Maklem,    Meklam,    Mc- 

Claim,    McLam,    Mc- 

Lem,  Macllom 
Maklam,  John   121,  142, 

144,  145,  149,  151,   r77, 

180,  276,  348,  456,  463, 

505 
Meklam,  Andrew  32,  40, 

47,  77,  81,  83,  90,  120, 

122,225,343 
Meklam,  Robert  32,  47, 

59,77,  79,81,83,85,88, 

97,   103,   no,  ni,   n2, 

117,  120,  121,   166,  304, 

343'  387,  503.  504 
Marcy,  Rev  278 
Marsh,  Elisha  18 
Marsh,  Horatio  498 
Marshall,  Clement  387 
Marshall,  E  B  291 
i  Marshall,  Jonas  A  438 
Marston,  Reuben  274 
Martin,  Moses  408 
Martin,  N  H  290 
Mathers,  Doctor  143 
Metoon,  Captain  148 
Mattoon,    Ebenezer    Jr 

264,  3S8,  390,  425 
Mattoon,  Ebenezer  243, 

3S7 
Mattoon,  Noah  D  425 
Maxwell,    Captain    349, 

354 
May,  Isaac  178 
McCartney,    John     120, 

226,  343,  344,  347 
McClallan,  Colonel  153 
McClellan,  General  435 
McCollister,  Daniel  40S 
McCollister,      Hamilton 

403,  405,  407,  408,  409, 

411.455 
McConel,  James  77,  85, 

87,  98,  99,  n7,  120,  304, 

305 
McCotton,  James  348 
McClintock,  Samuel  96, 

261,  306.  314,  315,  317 
Conkey,   M  c  C  o  n  k  e  y, 

Conicy,        McKonkey, 

Konkey,  Konky 
McConkey,     Alexander 

17.  24.  31 
McConkey,  Asa  355 
McConkey,  James  24,  31, 

33 


McConkey,  John  17,  24, 

31 
McConkey,  William  33 
McCraken,  John  226 
McCraken,  Joseph   407, 

408,  409,  455 
McCrelless,  John  455 
McCulloch,       McAllah, 
McAllach,      Mc  Col- 
lough,  M  c  C  u  1 1  ogh, 
McCollah 
McCulloch,     Alexander 
33.57,59.60.62,63,81, 
90,  100,  III,   120,   128, 
297.348,350,   351,  454r 
456, 503,  504 
McCulloch,   Henry   151, 
152,  161,  178,  227,  229, 
250,  384,  3851  387,  388, 
389,  464 
McCulloch,  James  34, 37, 
38,  39,  40,  46,47,81,83, 
84,  85,  87,  88,  89,  218, 

297.  305.  347  ,     , 

McAllach  or  McCulloch, 

John    17,   24,   31,   386, 

456,  464 
McCu'loch,  Robert  151, 

152,  161,  178,  227,  229, 

250,  265.  343.  387,  437r 

454.  475,  505 
McDaniel,    Daniel    353, 

354 
McDaniel,  James  354 
McDowell,  Rev  n2,3o6, 

317 
McFall,  William  165.166, 

168,  169,  351,  460 
McFarland,  Andrew  21, 

24,  26,  31,   34,  36,  46, 

McFarland,  Elijah  462 
McFarland,  John  94,  106,^ 

McGray,    Andrew     348, 

350,  352.  355 
McGregorie,   David   73, 

297,  299,  300,  315,  317, 

405,  406 
McHertney,  John  489 
McKee,  John  346,  463 
McKee,  Josiah  464 
McKee,  Robert   33,  85, 

105,  454 
McKeon,  James  73,  405 
McKlurn,  John  352 
McLachay,  Samuel  49 
McLeane,  John  146 


520 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


McMillin,Millin,Mullen, 

Mellen 
McMillen,  Archibald  228 
McMillen,  James  386,390 
McMillen,  James  C  271, 

275,  279,  2S0,  504 
McMillen.  Jeremiah  166, 

387,  390,  465 
McMillen,  John  279,  280, 

283 
McMillan,  Jonathan  3S7, 

390,  463 
McMillan,  Patrick  3S7 
McMillan,  Thomas  386 
McMillen,  Wilham  277, 

2S0,  390,  463,  465 
McMullin,  Mullin,  Mel- 

lin 
McMullin,    David    350, 

351 

McMullen,  Deacon  329, 
330,  335,  405 

McMullen.  James  Cald- 
well 131,247,348,456 

McMullen,  John  504 

McMullen,  Patrick  57, 
59,  60,  90,  92,  94,  98, 
114,  120,  225,  279,  280, 
343.  354,  386,  503 

McMullen,  Thomas  89, 
119,150,  279,  305,  348, 
457>  504 

McMullen,  William  350, 

351 
McNaughton,  44S 
McNiell,  John  343 
McNitt,  Alexander  108 
McNutt,   Alexander  92, 

100,  112,  454 
McRankin,  John  354 
Meracle,  Sherman  291 
Merrick,  Roswell  400 
Merrill,  Calvin  243 
Merrill,    Nathaniel    116, 

128,  130,  133,  134,  135, 

138,  139,  140,  145,  147, 

262,  263.  320,  321,  337 
Mellen,  Mellin,  Millan 
Millen,  Captain  277 
Millen,  David  461,  467 
Millen,  Ira  461 
Millen.     John     Lindsev  i 

461  ■  1 

Millen,     Jonathan     177,! 

180,  277 
Millen,  Levi  177.  467 
Millen,  Lucius  461 
Millen,  Patrick  461,  467 


Millen,  Rufus  467 
Millen,  William  177,230, 

275 
Millen,  William  Sr  461 
Millen,  William  Jr  467 
Miller,  David  505 
Miller,  David  and  Wil- 
liam 177 
Miller,  F  S  291 
Miller,  Job  S  248,  255 
Miller,  John  229,  230,  505 
Miller,  John  and  Rul'us 

177 
Miller,  Jonathan  230 
Miller,  Lorenzo  W  291, 

292 
Miller,  Moses  17S 
Miller,  Robert  232 
Miller,  R  D  286 
Miller,  Samuel  17S,  466 
Miller,  William  177,  180, 

1S3,  229,  230,  505 
Millington,  Captain  354 
Mills,  Brigham  177 
Mills,  James  177 
Mills,  William  457 
Mirah,  Captain  345 
Mitchel,  Andrew  242 
Montague,  Luke  251 
Montgomery,  Marion 

498 
Montgomery,     Thomas 

149,  155,  228,  233,  348, 

3S7 
Montgomery,  William  P 

361,  364 
Moody,  Medad  390 
Moody,  Samuel  342 
Moor,  Mr  434 
Moor.  James  408 
Moorhead,  John   9,    -jT)^ 

299,300,312,  313,  315, 

317,405 
Moors,  Hugh  343,  408 
Morgan,  Abner  390 
Morse,  Samuel  375 
Morrison,   Thomas   407, 

455 
Morton,  Seth  456 
Moseley.  Colonel  350 
Moss,  Reuben  273,  278 
Moulton,  John  F  204 
Moulton.  Levi  426,  431 
Moulton.    Levi    H    204, 

247 
Mower,  C  C  C  476 
Mower,    James    D    20S, 

362 


Mulnix,  Andrew  H  293 
Murray,  Colonel  151 
Murray,  James  A  256 
Murray,  John  F  256 
Myrick,  Edmund  241 
Mvrick,  William   L  204, 
206 

Nash,  Samuel  172 
Neal,  Jonathan  291 
Nevens,  John  40S 
Newell,  Benjamin  461 
Newell,  David  290 
Newell,  David  Jr  178 
Newell,  Lemuel   H   206, 

507 
Newell,  Levi  17S,  271 
Newell,  Reuben  461 
Newell,  William  200,  254, 

486,  487 
Nickerson,  Joshua  204 
Nichols,  John  F  204,  206, 

360,  364 
Noon,  John  290 
Nowley,  Rufus  467 
Nukop.  George  463 
Nut,  Abraham  454 

Ober.  Asa  244 

Oliver,  Andrew  265,  266, 

275, 469 
!  Oliver,  Robert  454 

Oliver,  William  178,  230. 
I      2S2,  283,  342,  45S 
!  Oliver,  William  W  431 
I  O'xNeal,  Garrett  363 
I  Orcutt,  Samuel  460,  467 
1  Ormston,     Robert     174, 
250,251,252,254 
Osborn,  Levi  G  364 
Otis,  Erastus  289 
Otis,  Harrison  Gray  437 
Otis,  Isaac  435 
Otis,  Isaac  Jr  178,  241, 

271 
Otis,  James  42S 
Otis,  John  437 
Otis,  Samuel  Allen  384 
Otis.  William  Smith  435, 

436,  437 
Packard,  Abram  184 
Packard,  Barzillia  467 
Packard,  D  F  204,  206, 

208 
Packard.  Daniel  178,  230, 

2S4, 504 
Packard,  David  461 


INDEX    TO    MEN. 


521 


Packard,  Eliab  17S,  22S, 

229,  466 
Packard,  Elijah  17S 
Packard,  Eliphaz  252 
Packard,  J  Monroe  257 
Packard,  Jacob  Jun  178, 

230,  251 
Packard,  Job  17S,  459 
Packard,   Joel   253,  257, 

506 
Packard,  Jonathan    178, 

229,230,  231,505 
Packard,  Joseph  133,135, 

136,  142,  143,  144,  145, 

147,  148,  150,  151,  159, 

160,  162,  264,  386,  502, 

504 
Packard  &  Kingman  252 
Packard,  Levi  386 
Packard,    Thomas    17S, 

468 
Packard,    Timothy    137, 

142,  155,  160,  226,  390, 

504 
Page,  A  C  232,  284 
Page,  John  A  245,  50S 
Parker,  Eli  250 
Park,  Joseph  204 
Parker,  Joshua  355 
Park,  Stewart  James  229, 

251,458,475 
Parmenter,    Charles    O 

204,  503 
Parmenter,  Deliverance 

388 
Parmenter,  Israel  38S 
Parmenter,    Jason     3S5, 

3SS,  3S9 
Parmenter,  John  197,231, 

242,  247,  258,  502 
Parmenter,  Micah  388 
Parmenter,  Silas  38S 
Parsons,  David  243,  275, 

276,  297,  299,  300,  495, 

496 
Parsons,  David  495,  496 
Parsons.  Eli  376,  377.  39^ 
Partridge,     Oliver     308, 

411 
Patton,  Christopher  169, 

259.  251,485 
Patterson,        Petterson, 

Peterson,  Peteson,  etc 
Patterson,  Adam  17,  24, 

31,  46,  47,  83,  86,   89, 

297,  347,  457 
Patterson,  George  59, 61, 

63,  64,  88,  97,  98,  loi, 


III,  120,  122,  127,  128, 
129,  136,  225,  297,  343, 

503,  504      ^ 
Patterson,     James     346, 

457 
Patterson,  Thomas  297 
Patterson,  William  305, 

454 
Paul,  William  466 
Peables,    Peibols,    Pea- 
bels,    Pebils,    Pebles, 
Peebles,  etc 
Peebles,  David  459 
Peables,  Patrick  17,  19, 
20,  24,  26,  31,47,48,56, 
57,  58,59,62,63,79,85, 
86,  89,  90,  91,  94.   95, 
102,  no,  117,   120,  122, 
224.  265,  302,  303,  454, 
458,  459,  460,  504 
Peebles,  Frank  458 
Peables,  James  117,  134, 
142,  226,  344,  455,  459, 
469, 480,  481 
Peables,  Robert  10,   13, 
14,  15,  16,  17,  19,21,23, 
24,  26,  29,31,32,33,34, 
37,  39,41,45,46,47,48, 
49,50,75,76,77,79,81, 
82,  84,  86,  89,  94,  95,  96, 
97,   98,   222,   259,   296, 
298,  302.  344 
Peables,  Robert  Jr  343 
Peables,  Robert  Young 

387 
Peebles,    William     For- 

bush  465 
Peables,  John  32,  85,  86, 

88,  90,  95,  98,   103.  Ill, 

120,  14S,  150,   159,  169, 

227,  22S,  264,  343,  344, 

355,  387,  454,  462,  504, 

505 
Peables,  John  Jr  120 
Peck.  Jesse  F   178,  183, 

184,  230,  231,  271,  505 
Peck. Joseph  458 
Peck,  Simeon  456 
Peck,  Winchester  464 
Pelham,  Henry  74,  196, 

286,  499.  500,  501 
Perin,  Steven  352 
Perkins,  Nathan  282,284, 

387 
Peso,  Nathan  466 
Peso,  Samuel    178,   229, 

230, 458 
Pettengall,  Mr  184 


Pettengall,  Nathan  467 
Pettengall,  Stephen  227, 

390 
Phelps,  Asahel  459 
Phelps,  C  54,  60 
Phipps,  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor 342 
Phillips,  Mr  331,  332,  333 
Phillips,  Patrick  459 
Phillips,  Samuel  384 
Pierce,  Joseph  505 
Pierce,  Joseph  Jr  231 
Pierce,  Josiah  231,  505 
Pierce,  Josiah  Jr  467 
Pierce,  Luther  231,  502 
Pike,  Philander  363 
Pitman,  George    B   197, 

231,  232,506 
Pitman,  Fred  241 
Pitman,  John  N  204,  206, 

208 
Pond,  Samuel  M  459 
Pomroy,  David  243 
Pomroy,  Ebenezer  13,  17 
Pomroy,  Elisha  258 
Pomroy,  Luther  467 
Porter,  Ebenezer  61 
Porter,  Eleazer  44,  92 
Porter,    Elisha    Sheriff, 

375,385,.  , 
Porter,  Elisha  347,  351 
Potter,  Gulley  476 
Potter,  Olney    178,   230, 

231.  259,476 
Powell,  Edwin  J  256 
Powell.  Joseph  R  497 
Powers,  Isaac  46S 
Powers,  Capt  Isaac  148, 

153,  390 
Powers,  Doct  Isaac  177, 

230,  259 
Powers,  James  344 
Powers,  John  153,  375 
Pratt,  Albert  208 
Pratt,  David  390 
Pratt,  John  351,  353 
Pratt.  Jonathan  260 
Pratt,  Micah  351 
Pratt,  Nathaniel  2S4 
Pratt,  Sylvanus,  463 
Pratt,  William  459 
Pratt,  William  S  359 
Prebble,  John  354 
Presho,  Dwight  233,  508 
Presho,  Zadock  206,  290 
Proute,  Jacob  149 
Purington,    Daniel    199, 

247 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Putnam,  Colonel  354, 391 
Putnam,  Daniel  438 
Putnam,  Rufus  395,  396, 

397,  398 
Pynchon,  William  iS 

Ramsdale,  Abner  463 
Kamsdell.  Anson  257 
Ramsdell  Jacob  454 
Randell,  Alonzo  C   204, 

206,  507,  508 
Randell.  Arba  206'  245, 

462,  477 
Randall,   Benjamin   253, 

486.  506 
Randall,  David  291,  292 
Randall,  Elijah  184,  231 
Randall,    Ephriam    178, 

230 
Randall,  Gideon  178 
Randall,  Titus  458 
Randall,     Warren     204, 

206,  507 
Ranham,  Daniel  350 
■Rankin,  Rinkin.  Renken 
Rankin,  Abial  462 
Rankin,    Ansel    A    206, 

212,  213,231,  232,  290. 

507 
Rankin,     Augustin      H 

446 
Rankin,  Austin  232 
Rankin,  Edward  418,419 
Rankin,  Ira  P  416,  417, 

418 
Rankin,  James  178,  229, 

282,  387,  457,  460 
Rankin,   John    130,    131, 

136,  137,  141,  i45i  148, 
150,  151,  153,  155,  158, 
159,  160,  171,  174,  175, 
178,  182.  194,  227,  228, 
236,  264.  266,  268,  282, 

283,  346,  386.  456,  475, 

504.  505 
Rankin,  John  Jr  177,  17S, 

184,  230,  231.  258,  282, 

283,  459.  505 
Rankin,     Ensign     John 

267 
Rankin,  John  Esq  475 
Rankin.  Joseph  87. 89,  92, 

112,  117,  122,  305,  346, 

354,  3S7,  3S9.  454,  459, 

464 
Rankin,  Lieutenant  267, 

475 
Rankin,  Nathan  250 


Rankin,  S  W  446 
Rankin,  Silas  283,  467 
Rankin,  William  C  231 
Rankin,  Zebina  416,   460 
Rinkin,  Joel  390 
Rinken,     Mathew     387, 

457 
Ransom,  Job  354 
Ransom.  Moses  355,  456 
Redding,  Moses  208,209 
Reeniff,  Daniel  468 
Reniff,  Abisha  178,  230 
Reniff,  Morey  17S 
Ree,  William  456 
Reed,  William  F  204 
Reid.  John  72 
Rhodes,  Rhoads,  Rodes, 

etc 
Rhodes,  Doctor  259 
Rhodes,  John  O  362 
Rhodes,  Samuel  164, 3S7, 

390 
Rhodes,    Solomon    358, 

364 
Rhodes,  Stephen  82,  204, 

223, 359 
Rice,  1  imothy  346,  348, 

456 
Richards,  Nathan  350 
Richardson,  Cyrenas  T 

204 
Richardson,  Enos  S  255, 

285 
Richardson,  Henry  461 
Richardson,  Isreal  122 
Richardson,  John  252 
Richardson,      Jonathan 

177,  181,505 
Richardson,     Marcenus 

B  204,  206 
Richardson,  Wyatt  506 
Richmond.       Nathaniel 

353 
Richmond,  Zebulon   348 
Rider.  Giles  460 
Rider,  Isaac  178 
Right,  Gains  466 
Robins,  Daniel  461 
Robins,  Samuel  390,  434 
Robbins,  Amariah  252 
Robbins,  O  289 
Robeson,  Joseph  465 
Robinson,  Abial  434 
Robinson,  Albert  B  434 
Robinson,  Amaziah  362 
Robinson,  Bartlett  348, 

353, 354 
Robinson,  Daniel  344 


Robinson,  John  348 
Robinson,  M  F  446 
Robinson,    Samuel    344, 

345 
Robinson.    Sanford     M 

446 
Root,  John  204 
Rowland,  Seth  344 
Ruggles,  Adin  461 
Ruggles.   Constant   230, 

258,  460,  505 
Ruggles,  Timothy  344 
Rush,  Samuel  346 
Rush,  Samuel  456 
Russell,  Ebenezer  40S 
Russell,  J  Elmer  293 
Russell,  John  199.  202 
Russell,  John  S  260 
Russell,  Samuel  W  260 
Rust,  Mr  56 

Sabin,  Timothy  233 
Sampson,  Samson 
Sampson,  Abisha  465 
Sampson,  Daniel  352 
Sampson,        Lieutenant 

153,  155 
Sampson,  Nathaniel  144, 
145,  147,  148,  152,  158, 
160,  161,  162,  171,  228, 
229,  230,  236,  250,  251, 
264,  266,  346,  3S6,  457, 
502.  504,  505 
Sampson,    Samuel    150, 

250 
Sampson.  Thomas  466 
Sanger,  Charles  H  361 
Saris,  Ebenezer  3S7,  353, 

354 
Sackett,  Gad  375 
Savage,  Savige 
Savage  &  Conkey  409 
Savage,  Edward  408,  448 
Savage,  James  408 
Savage,  John  85,   88,  89, 
90,91,  92,  93,  98.  112. 
113,  114,  118,  120.  224, 
235,302.304,  307,  310, 
345,  405.  406,  40S,  410, 
446,  447, 448 
Savage,  John  Jr  411 
Savage,  Judge  John  448 
Sawyer.  Edmund  H  440 
Searl,  Bildad  458 
Sears,  Barnabas  Jr  461 
Sears,  Colonel  352 
Sears,  Ebenezer  353.  354 
Sears.  Jonathan  F  467 


INDEX    TO    MEN. 


523 


Sears,  Roland  177,   iSi, 

505 
Sekell.  Robert.  3S7 
Selfridge.  Edward  S3. 85, 

87,  88.  89,  97,  109,  347, 

451,  469 
Selfridge,  Oliver  98,  109, 

117-  343-454 
Selfridge,    Robert    346, 

347 
Selfridge,    William    98, 

100,  117,  343.454 
Shattuck.  Job  375 
Shaw,  Andrew  119 
Shaw,  Ansel  460 
Shaw,  Ansel  C  291,  292 
Shaw,  Asa  230 
Shaw,  Asahel  B  291 
Shaw,  Daniel  14S.  153 
Shaw,  Edwin  241 
Shaw,  Elias  466 
Shaw,  Ezra 
Shaw,  George  204,  2c6 
Shaw,  George  L  256 
Shaw,  George  P  246 
Shaw,  Jacob  458 
Shaw,  James  461 
Shaw,  John  204.  360 
Shaw,  Joseph  463 
Shaw,  William  466 
Shepard,    General    374, 

376.  3S0, 401 
Shepard,  George  W  507 
Shepard,  Robinson  45S 
Shiells,  Robert  71 
Shirley,  William  75,   76, 

91,92 
Shores,  David,  232,  239, 

245,246,508 
Shores,  Charles   B   233. 

508 
Shores,  Silas  S  257,  258. 

4S3 
Shurtlieff.    Benoni    164. 

165.  166,  249.  251,  264, 

342,  4S5.  490 
Shurtlieff.  f^roa  45S 
Shurtlieff,  Landlord  162, 

164 
Shute,  Governor  8 
Sloan,  Andrew  177,  461 
Sloan,  David    154,    250. 

348,387.456 
Sloan,  David  and  Gard- 
ner 177 
Sloan,  Gardner,  459,  460 
Sloan,  James    108,    120, 

305)  344-  466 


Sloan,  John  455 

Sloan,  Samuel    177,  273, 

280, 457 
Sloan,  Samuel  Jr  J77 
Smallage,  Joseph  271 
Smalledge,  Rev  288 
Smith,  Abial  B  253 
Smith,  Abner  352 
Smith.  Andrew  454 
Smith,  Elias  390 
Smith,  G  P  446 
Smith,  George  466 
.Smith,  Horace  C  445 
Smith,  Hugh  463 
Smith.  Job  459 
Smith,   James   357,   454. 

461,477 
Smith,  James  X  42S,  429. 

430 
Smith,  John  172 
Smith,  Josiah  46S 
Smith.  Luther  284 
Smith,   Oliver    178.    231. 
245,  270.  467.  468,  502. 
505,  506 
Smith.  Oliver  Jr  191,  25S. 

505.  506 
Smith,  Oliver  437,  506 
Smith,  Oliver  C  446 
Smith,  Samuel  390 
Smith.  Simeon  390 
Smith,  William  17S,  179, 

230,  252,  459 
Snell,  Rev  288 
Snow,  Jonathan  387,  390 
Shays,    .Shess,    Shass, 

Sheas 
Shays,  Daniel  145,  148, 
150,  151,  152,  156,  160, 
162,  258,  274,  280,  348, 
354.  366,  373'  374,  375) 
376,  377,  37^,  379)  380, 
381,382,383,  3S4,  38S, 
39O)  39I) 392,  394)  395) 
396,  397)  398,  399)  400, 
402, 483 
Shay,  John  204 
Sikes,  Oren  291 
Simonds.  Ensign  352 
Sisson,  John  290 
Slater,  Solomon  208 
Sornborger,  Doctor  4S7 
Soule,  Nathan  A  290 
Southwick,  E  S  204 
Southwick,    Erastus    B 

359 
Southworth,  Southard 


Southworth,  Abiah  149, 
162,  164,  185,  189,  230, 
231.  259,  265,  267,  269, 
390,  412,  413,  414,  465, 
505 
South  worth, Christopher 

412 
Southworth,  Const  a  n  t 

412 
Southworth,     Edward 

286,  412,  414 
Southworth,  Gilbert  412 
Southworth,  John  412 
Southworth,  John  H4i4 
Southworth,   Richard 

412 
Southworth,  Rufus  253, 

-55-413 
Southworth,    Thomas 

412 
Southworth,  L^riah   387, 

390 
Southworth,  Wells  253, 

255.  2S6,  412,  413 
Spaulding,  Solomon  265 
Spear,  Luther  271 
Spear,  M  N  336 
Spofford,  L  A  284 
Sprague,  Edward  P  404 
Sprague,  Jonathan  455 
Squares,  D  N  204 
Squares,  Truman  363 
Squares,  William  208 
Stacy,  Horace  285 
Staples,  Charles  461 
Staples,  Elias  177 
Starling,  Luke  Welling- 
ton 460 
Starling,   John   90,    297, 

341 
Sterns,  Jasper  178 
Stearns,  Jasper  467 
Stebbins,  Daniel  439 
Stetson,  Charles  49S 
Stevens,  Abraham  257 
Stevens,  John  351 
Stevenson,      S  tin  son, 

Stenson.  Stevison 
Stevenson,    Christopher 

351 
Stevenson,     Isaac     344, 

448,455 
Stevenson,  James  459 
Stevenson,  John  120,344, 

345-  459 
Stevenson,  John  59 
Stevenson,  Samuel  387, 

464 


5^4 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Stickney,  John  251 

Stinson,  John  17,  19,  24, 

26,31,32,45,46,47,48, 

50,  53,  77,  78.  79' So,  81, 

83,  84,  85,  86,  87,  90, 

117,  225,  298,  300,  302, 

303,  305-  344.  44S 

Stinson,  Samuel  343,  449 

Stockwell,  Peter  177,  230 

Stoddard,  Isaac  231,288, 

2S9 
Stoddard,  John  9,  10,  13, 
14,  16,  17,  18,  20,  21,  46, 

77,  78,471 
Stoddard,  Roswell  14 
Stone,  EHab  206 
Stone,  Francis  3S0,  3S1 
Stone,  James  105 
Stoddard,  John  283 
Stone,  Mr  265 
Stoughton,  David  454 
Stratton,     Francis     157, 

170 
Stratton.  John  227 
Stratton,     Thomas     W 

507,  50S 
Streter,  Benony  467 
Strong.  Caleb  143 
Strongman,  Henry  454 
Strowbridge,  Henry  466 
Stutson,  Robert  465 
Sudden.  Seth  458 
Swan,  Duty  and  Robert 

17S 
Swan,  William 

Tagart,  Nathaniel  454 
Taft.  James  59,   117,  455 
Taft,  Jared  178 
Taft,  Levi  230 
Tally,  James  164 
Taylor,  Alfred  231,  432, 

446.  507 
Taylor,  C  H  204,  285 
Taylor.  Israel  204.  50S 
Tavlor,    Israel    H     199, 

200,  232,  255,  259,  432. 

433'  445 

Taylor,  James  17,  24,  31, 
40,  46.  47,  49,77,81,85, 
86,  88,  89.  120,  148,  150, 
151,  155.  159,  224,  226, 
234.  236,  237,  303,  305, 
346,  386.  432,  504 

Taylor,  John  178,  229, 
230,  271,  357,  432,  458, 

505 
Taylor,  Lieutenant  267 


Taylor,  Lyman  177 
Taylor,  Samuel  224 
Taylor,  Stewart  432 
Taylor,  Thomas  Thomp- 
son 164 
Taylor,  Uzzial  459 
Thayer,  John  184,  460 
Thayer,  Jonathan  227 
Tliayer,  Nathan  459 
Thatcher,  Samuel  350 
Thomas,  Captain  355 
Thomas,   David  83,   88, 
89,91,92,93,94,95,96, 
97,  98,  99,  305,  454 
Thomas,  Samuel  17,  24, 

31 
Thompson,      Thomson, 

Tomson,  Tompson 
Thomson,  Alexander  49 
Thomson,  James  Jr  178, 

230, 386 
Thompson,  A  W  415 
Thompson,  Andrew  467 
Thompson,  Asa  198,255, 

445 
Thompson,  Daniel    178, 

193,  231,259,  415,  416, 

422,  433. 459.  506 
Thompson,  David  194 
Thompson,  Deacon  266, 

267 
Thompson,  Edmund  206 
Thompson,  George   121, 

206,  455 
Thompson,  Capt  George 

138,  140,  141,  142,  145, 

146,  14S,  152,  159 
Thompson,     John     454, 

469 
Thompson,  John  Jr  TiSS, 

390,  464 
Thompson,  John  M  46c 
Thompson.     John     264, 

343,  347,  349.  350,  35', 

504 
Thompson,     James     99, 

100,  105,  112,   120,   149, 

17S,  343'  386,  455,  465, 

490 
Thompson.  James  Jr  1 78, 

230,  386 
Thompson,     James     2d 

464 
Thompson,    Dr    James 

415 
Thompson,    Johnson    J 

445 


Thompson,  Joseph   227, 

386,  456,  469 
Thompson,  Levi  469 
Thompson,  Luther  357 
Thompson,  Peleg  P  415 
Thompson,     Philo    204. 

208 
Thompson,  Thomas  149, 

178,348,390,457,  469 
Thornton,  Llisha  204 
Thornton,  James  10,   13, 

14,  15,  16,  17,  19,21,23, 

24,  29,  31, 37, 38.  39' 40, 

41,  42,  45,46,  47'48,  49' 

53,  85,86,  219,  297,  299 
Thornton,   Matthew   24, 
(      31 

Thornton,  Samuel  84 
Thornton,    William    24, 

27,  28,  31,32,  33,  297 
Thurber,  William  206 
Thurber,  Zimri  446 
Thurston,     Thus  ten, 

Thirsten 
Thurston,  James  502, 506 
Thurston,  John  257,  348 
Thurston,  John  T  506       / 
Thurston,  Paul  178,  231, 

465.  466 
Thurston,  Thomas    157, 

227,  506,  507 
Tilson,  Caleb  459 
Tinkham,    Joseph     386, 

390 
Tinkham,  Levi  464 
Titus,  Nathan  252 
Titus,  Sylvester  177,  230 
Titus,  Tmiothy  408 
Tobey,  Mr  277,  278 
Todd,  William  34S 
Torrance,  Alexander  387, 

457 
Torrance,  John  460 
Torrance,  Thomas  455 
Tower,  Isaac  Jr  178,  230, 

467 
Tufts,  George  204,  206 
Turnecliff,  E  H  291 
Turner,  Torner 
Turner.  Alexander  17,24, 
31,46,  47' 55- 56' 59- 77, 
79,86,  87,92,93,95,99, 
100,  105,  1 10,   II  I,  120, 
225,  305,  3°7^  405,  406, 
407,  40S,  41 1 
Turner,     Alexander    Jr 
411 


INDEX    TO    iMEN. 


525 


Turner,  James  iii,  112, 
11^-  343>  403,  405,  406, 
407,  408,  410,  411,  455 
Turner,  Jonathan  284 
Turner,  Reuben  408 
Turrell,  Terel 
Turrell,  Jacob  354 
Terel.  Noah  178 
Tuttle,  Alfred  233,  256 
Tuttle,  Hiram  204,  206 
Twohig,  Richard  204 
Twohig-,  Timothy  204 
Tyler,  Tylor 
Tyler,  Amos  467 
Tyler,  Daniel  386 
Tyler,  W  S  2S4,  293 
Tyler,  William  284 

Vailk,  William  K  213, 
232,286,292,293,  478 

Vanstone,  John  238,  239, 
260 

Vaughn,  Rev  28S 

Vaughn,  Thomas  177, 
230 

Vaughn,  Thomas  Jr  460 

Varnum,  Colonel  391 

Venable,  H  1  433,  434 

Wade,  Cyrus  A  208 
Wait,  David  22S,  277,  qoc 
Waldo,  Cor-nel  18 
Walker,  Henry  284 
Wallas,  Samuel  454 
Walless,  John  455 
Walpole,  Robert  500, 501 
Ward,    Charles    L    233, 

285  ^^' 

Ward,  John  179,  206 
Ward,  John  Jr  466 
Ward,  John  D  508 
Ward,  John  B  204,  206, 

478 
Ward,  Joseph  G  95,  204, 

206,  242,  246,  431,  478 
Ward,  Hosea  206 
Ward,  Horton  B  291 
Ward,  Lysander  H  508 
Ward,  Moses  L  204,  206, 

233.  507 
Ward,  Nathaniel  355 
Ward,  Seth  355 
Warren,  T  131 
Ward,  W^  H  H  446 
Ward,  Winsor  29 
Ward  iS:  Latham  242 
Warford,  John  409 
Warner,  Cullen  461 


Washburn,  James  230 
Washburn,  Jason  232 
Washington,  George  354 
Wason,  John  83 
Watkins,  James  164 
Webb,  Lannard  408 
Webster,  Augustus  290 
Wedge,  Wage 
Wedge,   Lemuel  C   191, 

255,  290,  462,  506 
Wedge,  Nahum  170,  172, 

179,  230,467,488 
Wedge,  Warren  C  232, 

256,  446 
Weeks,  Nathan  253 
Weeks,  Theverick  466 
Wells*  Augustin  179 
Wells,  WiUiam  386 
Wendell,  Jacob  342 
West,  Caleb  368 
Westcott,  Waistcoat 
Westcott,  Jared  T   194, 

255,  506 
Waistcoat,  Joseph  390 
Westcott,   Reuben    179, 

191,  194,  230,  231,  271, 

506 
Westcott,  Reuben   J    D 

446 
Westcott,,     William     S 

23S, 446 
Wetherell,   Barney   200, 

248 
Wheeler,  Weler 
Wheeler,  Adam  380,  398 
Wheeler,  Benjamin  468 
Wheeler,  Chancellor  255 
Wheeler,  Glazier  331 
Weler,  Ephriam454,  458 
Wheeler,  John  460 
Wheeler  Joseph  178 
Wheeler,  Henry  204 
Wheeler,  Henry  E  358 
Wheeler,  Nathaniel  193, 

468 
Whipple,  Joseph  271,  459 
Whipple,  Russell  Jr  206 
Whipple,  Russell  W  204 
White,  David   297,  299, 

300 
White,  Isaac  344 
White,  James  385,  456 
White,  John  129, 157,227, 

346. 463 
Wliite,  John  Jr  347 
White,  Lorenzo  291 
White,  Samuel  22S 
White,  William  P  290 


Whitney,  Amos  348 
Whitney,  Benjamin  118 
Whitney,  Bezebel  45S 
Whitney,  Elmer  257 
Whitney,  Joseph   D  360 
Whitney,  Joshua  390 
Whitting,  Amos  127 
Wild,  .Silas  121 
Wiley,  Charles  497,  498 
Wilhay,  Samuel  463 
Willard,  Samuel  271 
Willard,  J  75,  76 
Williams,  Abraham  342 
Williams,  Elisha  17,  42, 

43'  46,  47 
Williams,  Henry  179 
Williams,  Dr  Henry  259 
Williams,  John  409 
Williams,  Israel  42,  43, 

47 
Williams,  Col  Israel  344 
Williams,  Major  83 
Williams,  Moses  468 
Williams,  Silas  230 
Williams,  Thomas  342 
Williams,  William  344 
Willis,  John  204,  208 
Williston,  J  P  2S6 
Williston,  Samuel  2S6 
Willson,  Daniel  460 
Willson,  Samuel  455 
Willson,     William     179, 

280,  459 
Willson,  William  Jr   179 
Wilson,     Alexander     E 

433 
Wilson,  Elijah  348 
Wilson,  George    H  204, 

206, 208 
Wilson,  Pliny  460,  468 
Winship,  Joel  350,  351, 

352.355 
Winslow,  Lucian  204 
Winter,  Philo  D  232,507 
Winter,  David  458,  466 
Witherell,  George  E  363 
Witherell,  Rev  285 
Witt,   Nelson    204.    206, 

362 
Wolcott,  Roger  13,  17 
Wolcott,  Samuel  285 
Wood,  Ebenezer  387 
Wood,  Henry  363,  364 
Wood,  James  463 
Wood,  Jonathan  176,  179 
Wood,  Joseph  291 
Wood,  Levi  464 
Wood.  Seth  352 


35 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Wood,  Sylvamis  45S 
Woodbridge,    Benjamin 
Ruggles,  346,  347,  348, 

391 
Worthington,  John  345 
Woodbridge,  Rev  282 
Woodbridge,      Timothy 

308,  345 
Woods,  Daniel  46S 
Woods,  John  157 


Worthington,  John   115, 

410,491 
Wright,    Ebenezer    170, 

179 
Wright,  Gad  177 
Wright,  Gains  177 
Wright.  John  227 
Wright,  R  W  290 
Wright,  Samuel  214,  390 
Wyman,  Isaac  341 


Yates,  Governor  443 
Yerkes,  Isaac  291 
Young,  John  108,454 
Young,  Robert  455 
Young,  William   22,  23, 
26,  27,  28,32,36,37,48, 
49,  56,  66,  84,  473 


INDEX   TO    WOMEN. 


Abercrombie,   Margaret 

456,  459,  462 
Abercrombie, Mehetable 

459 
Abercrombie,  Rachel 

461 
Abercrombie,     Rebecca 

459 
Allen,  Sally  467 
Alexander,  Esther  108 
Alexander,  Jennett  454 
Andrews,  Mary  459 
Andrews,  Polly  461 
Andros,  Abigail  466 
Arnold,  Mary  466 
Arnold,  Polly  460 
Ashley.  Lucy  465 
Atkinson,  Mary  464 
Atkinson,  Sally  465 
Ayers,  Nancy  462 
Ayers,  Ruth  467 

Baker,  Eunice  466 
Baker,  Nabby  466 
Baker,    Mrs     Rebeccah 

280 
Bailey,  Charlotte  434 
Barber,  Dolly  464 
Barber,  Margarett  456 
Barber,  Sarah  455 
Barloe,  Deborah  464 
Barloe,  Mary  464 
Barloe,  Polly  464 
Barns,  Polly  465 
Bartlett,  Almariah  442 
Bartlett.  Chloe  460 
Bartlett,  Teurah  468 
Bears,  Eloner  457 
Bell,  Abigail  467. 
Bell,  Sarah  465 
Bennett,  Eliza  460 
Berry,  Agness  463 
Berry,  Elisebeth  457 
Berry,  Margerett  455 
Berry,  Mrs   Martha  280 
Berry.   Mrs    Naomi   280 
Berrv,  Sally  459 
Billings.  Polly  458 
Blair,  Elisebeth  455 
Blair,  Isabel  456 


Blair,  Jennet  455 
Blair,  Parses  464 
Blair,  Sarah  456 
Boltwood,  Keziah  465 
Borden,  Mrs   Lydia  466 
Boyden,     Clarissa     283, 

284,  443 
Boynton,  Sally  461 
Bradshaw,  Elisebeth  464 
Brewer,  H  B  232 
Brewer,  Louise  M  233 
Bridge,  Easter  463 
Bridge,  Ruth  457 
Briggs,  Harmony  463 
Briggs,  Millicent  463 
Brown,  Diana  468 
Brown,  Esther  467 
Brown,  Mary  460 
Bryant,  Caroline  416 
Bryant,  Mary  A  462 
Bryant,  Olive  459 
Butler,  Mary  455 

Cahoon,  Dolly  459 
Cahoon,  Hannah  466 
Cahoon,  Mary  466 
Canada  Girls  193 
Castle,  Lucinda  459,  468 
Cazier,  Matthias  Mrs  274 
Chace,  Juda  459 
Chadwick,  Judith  461 
Chapin.  Almira  Harring- 
ton 481 
Chapin,  Rhoda  467 
Chase,  Sarah  441 
Childs,  Lucia  460 
Childs,  Polly  466 
Clark,  Elisabeth  118,451, 

455 
Clark,  Jean  354 
Clark,  Katuron  464 
Clark,  Lucy  458,  466 
Clark,  Lydia  457 
Clark,  Margerett  457 
Clark,  Martha  407,  455 
Clark.  Mary  455 
Clark,  Patty  459 
Clark.  Polly  459 
Clark,  Prudence  454 
Clark,  Susannah  458 


Cleavlin,  Polly  468 
Cleveland,  Betty  459 
Cleveland,  Battsey  466 
Clough,  Phebe  459 
Clough,  Ester  466 
Cochran,  Agness  455 
Collester.  Elonor  455 
Coltier,  Elisebeth  412 
Colton.  Mrs  432 
Comstock,  Anna  462 
Comins,  Rhoda  468 
Conkey,  Anne  459 
Conkey,  Eanor  463 
Conkey,  Elinor  461 
Conkey,  Elizebeth  467 
Conkey,     Hannah     283, 

284,  455,  458 
Conkey,  Isabel  455 
Conkey,  Jennett  464 
Conkey,  Jemima  464 
Conkey,  Mahetable  461 
Conkey,  Mary  Maklem 

480 
Conkey,  Mary  2S4,  455, 

456.459,  462,  462,  464, 

468 
Conkey,  Martha  458 
Conkey,    Margery    457, 

468 
Conkey,     Margarett     A 

4S0 
Conkey,  Mrs  Margarett 

474 
Conkey,  Margarett  454, 

455 

460 
Conkey,  Prudence  467 
Conkey,  Polly  460 
Conkey,  Sarah  458,  459, 

463,  465 
Conkey,      R  e  b  e  c  k  a  h 

Hamilton  480 
Conkey,  Rebeckah  452, 

460 
Cook,     Bethiah     Ward 

444 
Cook,  Mary  283 
Cook,  Phebe  444 
Cook,  Polly  467 
Cooley,  Lucy  461 


5-^8 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


Cowan,  Batty  459 
Cowan,  Elisebe,h  454       j 
Cowan,  Mrs  Eunice  460  j 
Cowan,  Mary  E  442 
Cowan,  Mary  455 
Cowan,    Mrs    Margaret 

469 
Cowan,  Sarah   120,  454, 

455 
Cowan,  Sila  460 
Cowan,  Susuanna  2S3 
Cowan,  Sylvia  461 
Cowden,  Elisebeth  456 
Cowden,  Jennet  456 
Cowden,  Martha  457 
Cowden,  Mary  456 
Cowles,  Aunt'  Rene  496 
Crawford.  Hannah  464 
Crawford,  Patty  283  1 

Crawford.  Sarah  457         j 
Crawford.  Susannah  45S 
Crosett,  Elisebeth  456 
Crosett.  Isa  465 
Crosett,  Margerett  456 
Crosett,  Martha  456 
Crosett,  Sarah  464 
Crosett,  Mrs  Sarah  280 
Crossett,  Eunice  463 
Crossett,  Jennet  457 
Crossett,  Lavinia  C  433 
Crossett,  Lydia  463 
Crossett,  Mrs  Martha 

2S0 
Crossett,  Mary  455.  456 
Crossett,  Rebecca  45S 
Crosher.  Polly  457 
Crosther.  Ala'se  3S6 
Crozier.  Mary  460 
Cud  worth,  Sally  465 
Cunningham.   Mary  454 
Cutler,  Mrs  Dr  258 
Cutter,  Hannah  459 

Danforth,  Lucinda  462 
Danforth,  Malinda  46 r 
Danforth.  Margerett  459 
Darling.  Bettsey  466 
Darling.  Jemima  468 
Davenport.  Eliza 
Davis.  Hannah  433,  434 
Davison.  Betsey  458 
Davison,  Lucy  467 
Davison.  Pollv  466 
Davidson,  Patty  45S 
Davinson.  Polly  458 
Dick,  Ann  463 
Dick,  Catrin  457 
Dick,  Dinah  406,  455 


Dick,  Elisebeth  456 
Dick,  Eunice  457 
Dick,  Jean  457 
Dick,  Ketrin  455 
Dick,  Margarett  249,456, 

46S 
Dick,  Mary  455.  457 
Dick,  Mary  Ann  456 
Dick,  Sarah  407.  455 
Dickinson,  Abigail  460 
Dickinson,        Margarett 

45S 
Dolan,  Polly  466 
Dorety,  Lucretia  466 
Dulphe.  Elisebeth  463 
Dunbar,  Eunice  463,  464 
Dunbar,  Mary  442,  463 
Dunlap.  Agness  455 
Dunlap.  Mary  283,  284 
Dunlap.  Sarah  463 
Dunn,  Anna  468 
Drane.  Sarah  411 
Draper,  Lucy  467 

Eaton,  Charlotte  2S4 
Eaton,    Frances   Atessa 

2S4 
Eaton,  Mary  461 
Edson,  Annie  463 
Edson,  Betsey  463 
Edson,  Keziah  463 
Edson,  Polly  460 
I  English,  Eloner  456 
Everett,  Elisebeth  437 

Fails,  Alenda  467 

j  Fales,  Eunice  461 
Fales.  Nancy  461 
Fergerson,  Ann  455 

I  Fergerson,  Jennet  456 
Fergerson,  Susanna  455 
Ford,  Lyda  466 
Fowler,  Betty  460 
Freeman,  Sally  463 
Fuller.  Bethanie  464 
Fuller,  Mary  463 

Gay,  Sarah  467 
Gilmore.  Isabel  455 
Gilmore,  ALargerett  454 
Gilmore.  Martha  249 
Gilmore,  Mary  455 
Gold,  Livia  2S4 
Graham,  Mrs  Molly  123, 

124.  469 
Graves,  Mary  E  441 
Gray,  Agnes  283 
Gray,  Ann  421.  454 


Gray,  Battsey  466 
Gray,  Bettsey  283,  284 
Gray,  Easter  454 
Gray,  Elinor  118,  45-1 
Gray,  Elisebeth  454,  455 
Gray,  Emma  A  431 
Gray,  Hannah  464 
Gray.  Isabel  457,  45S 
Gray,  Mrs  Isabel  280 
Gray,  Jean  455 
Gray,  Jenny  45S 
Gray,  Lorania  431 
Gray,  Lydia  454,  457 
Gray,  Mrs  Lydia  280 
Gray,  Margerett  456,  464, 

465,  466 
Gray,  Martha  455,  45S 
Gray,  Mrs  Martha  280 
Gray,  Mary  431,  461 
Gray,  Mrs  Mary  2S0 
Gray,  Nancy  454,  458 
Gray.  Naomi  461 
Gray,  Pamelia  461 
Gray.  Phebe  458 
Gray.  Polly  457.  458,  461 
Gray,  Roxana  460 
Gray,  Mrs  Ruth  280 
Gray,    Sarah    283.    454, 

457,  462 
Gray,  Sarah  H  431 
Gray,  Susan  460 
Green,  Mary  457 
Grout,  Annis  434 
Grout,  Aseneth  433.  434, 

461 
Grout,  Orpha  434 
Guernsey.     Esther 

(widow)  258,  456 

Racket,  Heket 
Racket,  Hannah  465 
Racket,  Lydia  463 
Racket,  Ruth  465 
Heket,  Precila  457 
Halbert,  Elisebeth  456 
R albert,  I\Iary  456 
Hall,  Clarissa  434 
Hall.  Susan  434 
Hall.  Susannah  459 
Hamilton,  Anna  283 
Hamilton,  Annie  459 
Hamilton,  Betsey  283 
Hamilton,   Eleanor  406, 

446 
Hamilton,  Elisebeth  459 
Hamilton,  Isabel  457 
Hamilton,  Janet  454 


INDEX    TO    WOMEN. 


529 


Hamilton,        Margerett 

455>  456 
Hamilton,  Martha  464 
Hamilton,        Rebeckah 

454,  457 
Hamilton,  Sylvia  2S3 
Hamilton,  Widow  130 
Hardin,  Anna  459 
Harkness,  Anne  459 
Harkness,  Chloe  468 
Harkness,-Lovecey  468 
Harkness,  Isabel  465 
Harkness,    Nancy    421, 

457.  46S 
Harkness,  Polly  459 
Harkness,  Sally  459,  466 
Harkness,  Vesta  460 
Harlow,  Sally  461 
Harper,  Elisebeth  454 
Harrington,  Almira46i 
Hathaway,  Betsey  459 
Haskell,  Mary  457 
Haskell,  Polly  467 
Haskins,  Bashaba  466 
Hawley,  Rebecca  75 
Hayden,  Haden 
Haden,  Pollv  466 
Hayden,  Mary  284 
Hayden,  Phebe  461 
Hayden,  Sarah  461 
Haward,  Mary  464 
Hay  ward,  Polly  460 
Hayward,  Rhoda  465 
Hay  ward,  Tryol  464 
Hayze,  Sarah  463 
Heas,  Elisebeth  462 
Henderson,  Mary  462 
Henderson,  Phebe  455 
Herrington,  Faithful  467 
Hill,  Rebeckah  463 
Hinds,  Hynds 
Hinds,  Anna  459 
Hinds,  Mary  466 
Hinds,  Sarah  467 
Hinds,  Vesta  467 
Hoar,  Horr 
Hoar,  Abigail  460 
Hoar,  Rachel  460 
Hodgkins,  Clarissa  461 
Holland,  Hollan 
Holland,  Ana  463 
Hollan,  Betsey  459 
Holland,  Mary  463 
Holland,  Sarah  456 
Hood,  Jennet  456 
Hood,  Margerett  473 
Hood,  Nancy  457 
Hooker,  Esther  461 


Houston,  Mrs  Lucy  432 
Howard,  Mary  464 
Howard,  Rebekah  466 
Hubbard,     Emeline     A 

430 
Hunter,  Anne  459 
Hunter,  Elisebeth  454 
Hunter,  Janet  455 
Hunter,  Lois  458 
Hunter, Margerett  454 
Hunter,  Mary  464 
Hunter,  Sarah  456,  457 
Hunter,  Susannah  465 
Hyde,  Hannah  464 
Hyde,  Isabel  45S 
Hyde,  Ellis  463 
Hyde,  Eunice  467 
Hyde,  Polly  461 
Hyde,  Mrs  Rachel  480 

Ingram,  Abigal  463 
Ingalls,  Diana  283 

Jillit.  Harriet  M  413 
Jilson,  Lurana  46S 
Johnson,  Anna  467 
Johnson,  Elisebeth  45S, 

465 
Johnson,  Mary  192 
Johnson,  Rachel  192 
Johnston,  Agness  456 
Johnston,  Jean  457,  463 
Johnston,  Sarah  455 
Jones,  Lucy  460 
Jones,  Patty  461 
Joslin,  Nabby(widow)468 

Keep,  Almedia  467 
Keet,  Jemima  464 
Keith,  Mrs  J  W  258 
Kellogg,     Elisebeth     C 

425 
Kelso,  Susanna  454 
Kidd,  Kid 
Kid,  Elisebeth  454 
Kidd,  Margerett  109 
King,  Agness  454 
King,  Damaries  465 
King,  Margerett  454 
King,  Mary  45 S 
King,  Nancy  459 
King,  Sally  465 
Kingman,  Annie  M  284 
Kingman.  Sally  284 
Knapp,  Martha  465 

Lanord,  Olive  466 


Larrabee,    P  h  i  n  n  e  u  s 

(widow)  467 
Latham,   Esther    Cutler 

459 
Latham,  Polly  45S 
Latham,  Sally  45S 
Leach,  Hannah  466 
Leach,  Nabby  458 
Leach,  Sarah  465 
Leach,  Silence  463 
Lee,_Mary  2S3 
Lewis,  Etta  I  445 
Lewis,  Sally  461 
Lincoln,  Polly  460 
Lindsey,  Linsley,  Linsey 
Lindsev.  Anne   (widow) 

280 
Linsey,  Agness  455 
Lindsey,  Jean  465 
Lindsey,  Martha  464 
Lindsey,  Mary  (widow) 

280 
Lindsey,  Mrs  Mary  Ann 

280 
Lindsey.  Nancy  465 
Lindsey.    Mrs    Susanah 

2S0 
Lotheridge,  Anne  458 
Lotheridge,  Hannah  120 
Lotherige,  Margery  466 
Lotheridge,  Mary  173 
Lucore,  Sarah  454 
Lyon,  Frances  R  413 

Macomber,  Philena  466 
Macomber,  Polly  458 
McClelland,  Mary  454 
McCoUister.  Eleanor  411 
McConel,  Elenor  465 
McConel,  Jean  457 
McCorceles,  Jemima  464 
McCraken,  Jenny  455 
McCulloch.       McAUah, 
McAllach,     M  c  C  o  1- 
lough.  McCullagh,  Mc- 
Collah 
McCallough.  Lucy  467 
McCulloch,  Anne  458 
McCulloch,       Elisebeth 

457 
McCulloch,  Jean  454, 456 
McCulloch,  Jennett455 
McCulloch,      Margerett 

454,  456 
McCulloch,  Martha  437, 

464,  468 
McCulloch,  Molly  464 
McCulloch,  Sarar  456 


53° 


HISTORY    OF    PELHAM,    MASS. 


M  c  C  u  1 1  o  c  h,  Sarah 

Cowan  437 
McDonnal,  Nancy  463 
McFall,  Goody  339 
McFall,  Jennet  463 
McFarland,  Sarah  454 
McMaster,  Catrin  454 
AIcxNall,  Rachel  463 
Alaklem,    Meklam,    Mc- 

Claim,    AlcLam,    Mc- 

Lem,  Mac'ilom 
Maklem,  Ann  455 
Maklem,  Elisebeth  454, 

459 
Maklem,  Hannah  455 
Maklem,  Isal^el  454 
Maklem,  Jean  457,  462 
Maklem,  Margarett  456 
Maklem,  Mary  454,457 
Maklem,  Rebeckah  457 
Maklem,     Rebecca  h 

(widow)  2S0 
Maklem,  Sarah  454 
Marks,  Hannah  454 
Marsh,  Martha  464 
Mattoon,  Roxana  426 
Mellin,    McMullin,    Mc- 

Mellin,  Mullen,  Millan 
McMillen,  Anne  465 
McMillen,  Mrs  Jean  2S0 
McMullen,  Marv  457 
McMillen,     Mrs     Mary 

2S0 
McMillen,  Nancy  458 
McMillen,    Mrs    Sarah 

2S0 
McMillen,  Susannah  464 
Mellin,  Anne  467 
Mellen,  Susanna  461 
Millen,  Betty  467 
Millen,  Hannah  2S3,  460 
Millen,  Polly  459 
Mills,  Abigail  461 
Miller,  Lovina  46S 
Miller,  Lydia  452 
Mitchel  Ellen  442 
Mitchel  Roxilana  459 
Moody,  Martha  467 
Moody,  Mary  466 
Moor,  Bettsey  466 
Montgomery,  Polly  457 
Montgomery,  Anne  466 
Morgan,     Mrs    Annette 

497 
Morton,  Mary  465 
Mun,  Matilda  466 

Newcomb,  Patty  45S 


Newell,    Amelia   Brown 

461 
Newell,  Charlotte  461 
Newell,  Sally  461 
Newton,  Polly  466 
Nilson,  Sarah  463 
Nolton,  Margery  456 

Oliver,  Ann  456 
Oliver,  Battsey  469 
Oliver,  Mary  459 
Oliver,  Nancy  462 
Oliver,  Mary  Gaven  459 
Osburne,  Electa  467 
Otis,  Betsey  461 
Otis,    Tryphena     Smith 

435 
Owen,  Hannah  454 

Packard,  Chloe  463 
Packard,  Katherine  462 
Packard,  Lydia  412 
Packard,  Nancy  284,460 
Packard,  Serena  461 
Parce,  Matilda  465 
Park,  Mrs  Nancy  475 
Parkins,  Judith  460 
Parmenter,  Ruth  3S8 
Patch,  Hannah  467 
Patrick,  Mary  455 
Patterson,  Naomi  457 
Patterson,  Roxana  106 
Payne,  Eliza  J  443 
Pease,  Mrs  Nabby468 
Peck,  Harnett  434 
Peebles,  Mrs  Ann  454 
Rebels,  Anne  456 
Peebles,  Anne  458 
Peebles,   Margarett  463 
Rebels,  Mary  456 
Peebels,  Mary  454 
Peebles,  Rachel  465 
Peables,  Mrs  Rachel  469 
Peebels,  Sarah  454,  463 
Peeso,  Lydia  458 
Peeso,  Sarah  465 
Peterson.  Rhoda  456 
Pettengall,  Lydia  Amer- 

son  465 
Petteson,  Mary  455 
Phelps,  Betsey  467 
Pierce,  Matilda 415 
Pierce,  Sally  467 
Pirkins,  Lydia  464 
Powers,  Estha  467 
Powers,  Levina  465 
Powers,  Ruth  458,  465 
Pratt,  Margarett,  460 


Pratt,  Martha  465 
Pratt,  Olive  467 
Pratt,  Zube  464 
Pumroy,  Nancy  464 
Putnam,  Dorothy  L  438 
Putnam,  Mary  S  438 

Queen,  Elisebeth 
(widow)  1 1 7 

Ramsdell,  Lucy  463 
Randall,  Malinda434 
Rankin,  Anne  2S3 
Rankin,  Cynthia  283 
Rankin,  Jennet  457 
Rankin,  Martha  456 
Rankin,  Patty  467 
Rankin,  Polly  283 
Rankin,  Sally  283 
Ransom,  Elisebeth  456 
Ray,  Sally  458,  466 
Religh,  Elisebeth  465 
Rice,  Catrin  466 
Richmore,  Persela  456 
Rider,  Olive  467 
Rinken,  Batsey  466 
Rhodes,  Polly  458 
Robeson,  Widow  165 
Robertson,  Prudence 

465 
Robbins,  Abigail  466 
Robbins,  Sally  467 
Robinson,    Mary    A    P 

434 
Robinson.  Sally  460 
Rodgers,  Mary  465 

Sadler,  Livena  467 
Saltonstall,  Mary  13,  14 
Sampson,  Samson 
Sampson.  Chloe  459 
Savage,  Elisebeth  411 
Savage,  Jane  411 
Savage,  Martha  406,  454 
Savage,  Thankful  455 
Schiel,  Susannah  463 
Scot,  Elisebeth  456 
Sears,  Patty  467 
Sears,  Sally  459 
Selfridge,  Mrs  Elisebeth 

120,451,456 
Selfridge,  Nane  .^63 
Selfridge,  Rebeckah  469 
Shaw,  Anne  462 
Shaw,  Louisa  460 
Shaw,  Lydia  461 
Shays,  Mrs  Abigail  28c, 

391 


INDEX    TO    WOi\lEN, 


53^ 


Shays,  Hannah  465 
Shaye,  Lucy  45S 
Sheldon,  Lucy  466 
Shurtlieff,  Vise  464 
Simons,  Venis  466 
Sloan,  Abigail  463 
Sloan,  Agness  455 
Sloan,  Elisebeth  463 
Sloan,  Mrs  Eunice  280 
Sloan, Jinney  466 
Sloan,  Martha  449,  464 
Sloan,  Mary  456 
Sloan,  Sarah  456 
Smith,  Betsey  284 
Smith,  Mrs  Betsey  Otis 

477 
Smith,  Mrs  E  T  413 
Smith,  Ester  454 
Smith,  Esther  462 
Smith,  Experience  466 
Smith,  Hannah  457,  463 
Smith,  Jean  457 
Smith,  Margarett  454 
Smith,  Mary  457 
Smith.  Nancy  460 
Smith,  Patty  468 
Smith,  Rebecca  252 
Smith,  Sally  192 
Snow,  Cynthia  461 
Snow,  Sally  467 
Snow,  Saloma  461 
Southworth,  Southard 
Southworth,  Alice  412 
-Southworth,  Avis  464 
Southworth,  Bridget  463 
Southworth,     Kesiah 

Boltwood  412 
Southworth,  Lydiah  463 
Stark.  H  Ann  424 
Steuben,    Mrs    Harriett 

431 
Stevens,  Hannah  462 
Stevens,  Sarah  457 
Stevenson,       Margarett 

449 
Stevenson,  Mary  449 
Stewart,  Jean  462 
Sutherland,  Miss  443 

Taylor.  Anne  458 
Taylor,     Katherin     457, 
463 


Taylor,  Lucy  461 
Taylor,  Margarett  454 
Tekiel,  Lucy  465 
Thomas,  Jenny  457 
Thomas,  Martha  456 
Thomas,  Mary  464 
Thomas,  Susanna  455 
Thomas,  Susannah  406 
Thompson,      Thomson, 

Tom  son 
Thompson,  Dorcas  467 
Thompson,       Elisebeth 

463,  464 
Thompson,  Eunice  45S 
Thompson,  Hannah  460, 

467 
Thompson, Wid  Hannah 

461 
Thompson,     Mrs     Jean 

469' 
Thompson,      Margarett 

283 
Thompson,     Mrs     Mar- 
garet 469 
Thompson,  Martha  458, 

464 
Thompson,  Matilda  415 
Thompson,  Mary  455 
Thompson,    Molly    458, 

464 
Thompson,     Mrs     Pru- 
dence 469 
Thompson,  Ruth  445 
Thompson,    Sarah    284, 

465 
Thompson,  Sarah  H431 
Thompson,       Susannah 

459, 463 
Thornton,  Ester  454 
Thorp,  Lucy  459 
Thurston,  Elisebeth  17S, 

459 
Thurston,  Margerett  108 
Thurston,  Mary  466,  468 
Tolyman,  Phebe  458 
Torrance,  Martha  457 
Torrance,  Mary  456 
Tower,  Elisebeth  467 
Tower,  Lavinia  467 
Town,  Polly  467 
Turner,  Torner 
Turner,  Abigail  461 


Turner,  Alice  2S7 
Turner,  Eliza  284 
Turner,  Sarah  407,  409, 

455 
Turner,  Thankful  283 

Vaughn,  Lydia  460 
Vaughn,  Sally  460 

Walker,  Loise  464 
Walker,  .Mary  284 
Ward,  Mrs  M  L  232 
Warren,  Zubee  463 
Washburn,  Patty  458 
Washburn,  Sally  458 
Wetherby,  Laura  461 
Westcott,  Cynthia  462 
Wheeler,  Ruth  448 
Whipple,  Azubah  461 
White,  Lovince  465 
White,  S  V  430 
Whiteham,  Marcy  465 
Whitney,  Lucy  464 
Willey,  Elisebeth  456 
Williams,  Annie  467 
Willson,  Wilson 
Willson,  Mrs  Alice  280 
Willson,  Esther  467 
Willson,  Harriett  461 
Wilson,  Alice  458 
Wilson,  Lucy  460 
Wilson,  Martha  465 
Wilson,  Sarah  465 
Wood,  Mary  460 
Wood,  Lucy  462 
Wood,  Lydia  284 
Wood,     Mary     (widow) 

467 
Woodburn,    Rebecca   C 

413 
Woods,  Rebeckah46i 
Woods,  Mary  465 
Wright,  Sally  466 
Wylie,  Mrs  478 
Wyman,  Patty  467 

Young,  Mary  455 
Young,  Rachel  454 

Zuillo,  Frances  456 


